Portending

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Portend \Por*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Portended}; p. pr. &
     vb. n. {Portending}.] [L. portendre, portentum, to foretell,
     to predict, to impend, from an old preposition used in comp.
     + tendere to stretch. See {Position}, {Tend}.]
     1. To indicate (events, misfortunes, etc.) as in future; to
        foreshow; to foretoken; to bode; -- now used esp. of


        unpropitious signs. --Bacon.
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              Many signs portended a dark and stormy day.
                                                    --Macaulay.
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     2. To stretch out before. [R.] "Doomed to feel the great
        Idomeneus' portended steel." --Pope.
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     Syn: To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur;
          presage; foreshadow; threaten.
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