portend
portend
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling of "portend" (British English)
pɔːˈtend (two syllables)
por (pɔː)
p - voiceless bilabial stop (similar to "p" in "pie")
ɔː - long back open rounded vowel (similar to "awe")
tend (tend)
t - voiceless alveolar stop (similar to "t" in "tick")
ɛ - near-low central unrounded vowel (similar to "e" in "bed")
n - alveolar nasal (similar to "n" in "sip")
d - voiced alveolar stop (similar to "d" in "dip")
Word Form Variations
"Portend" itself only has one form.
Here's why:
Singular: This is the default form and the one you'd typically use. "The dark clouds portend a storm."
Plural: Since "portend" functions as a verb, it doesn't have a separate plural form. You can simply conjugate the verb to indicate tense (past, present, future) and plurality (singular vs plural subject). For example, "The strange symbols portended doom" (past tense, plural subject).
However, there is a related adjective: portentous.
Portentous: This describes something that suggests the coming of something significant, often negative. It follows standard adjective conjugation rules for singular and plural forms.
Singular: "The king's silence was portentous."
Plural: "The recent events have been portentous."
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Verb:
Definition: To be a sign or warning of something that is likely to happen in the future, especially something bad.
Synonyms: foreshadow, bode, presage, augur, foretell, predict (when used to indicate a negative outcome)
Antonyms: negate, belie, disprove (imply something won't happen)
Adjective (Portentous):
Definition: Suggesting that something significant, often negative, is about to happen.
Synonyms: ominous, threatening, menacing, foreboding, inauspicious
Antonyms: reassuring, promising, hopeful, auspicious
Examples of Use
Verb:
Literature: "The incessant croaking of the ravens portended doom for the approaching travellers." (from a fictional gothic novel)
News Article: "The rising inflation rates portend a possible recession in the coming year." (financial news website)
Social Media: "The recent political rhetoric portends a growing divide in the country." (Twitter post)
Movie Dialogue: "Those strange readings from the device... they portend something terrible." (sci-fi film)
Adjective (Portentous):
Book Review: "The author's use of portentous imagery effectively builds suspense throughout the story." (literary magazine)
Newspaper Headline: "Portentous Signs of Discontent Emerge Among Workers" (headline)
Social Media Post: "Feeling a bit portentous about the upcoming presentation... wish me luck!" (Facebook status)
Song Lyric: "With a portentous sigh, the old man spoke of the coming darkness." (folk ballad)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Portend
While "portend" is a powerful word, it's not as common in everyday speech or famous quotes. Here are some quotes that capture a similar sentiment using synonyms or a different phrasing:
"The moving finger writes, and having writ, Moves on; nor all your piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all your tears wash out a word of it." (Omar Khayyám, Rubáiyát) (foreshadows)
"Coming events cast their shadows before." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature) (foreshadows)
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair." (William Shakespeare, Macbeth) (suggests hidden meaning)
"Where there is smoke, there is fire." (Proverb) (implies something bad is likely)
"A stitch in time saves nine." (Proverb) (suggests future problems based on current inaction)
"The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned." (W. B. Yeats, The Second Coming) (foretells upheaval)
"The times they are a-changin'." (Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin') (implies future change)
"The cracks are beginning to show." (Common expression) (suggests something is failing)
"The writing is on the wall." (Common expression) (implies a clear sign of future trouble)
"There are dark clouds on the horizon." (Metaphor) (suggests future problems)
Etymology
The word "portend" is like a detective story about predicting the future! Here's the breakdown:
Origin: It all starts with the Latin word "portendere" which means "to stretch forth" or "to predict." Imagine stretching your hand out to point towards something that's about to happen.
First Appearance: The word "portend" showed up in English around the 1400s, borrowed directly from its French cousin "portendre." Back then, it likely had the same meaning it does today.
So, "portend" basically carries on the idea of stretching out (think foreshadowing) to reveal something that's coming up in the future.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Portend
While there aren't many common phrases or idioms that directly use "portend," here are some options that capture a similar meaning:
Read the writing on the wall: This implies a clear sign of future trouble is already present.
See the storm clouds gathering: This metaphor suggests a tense situation that could lead to conflict.
A bad omen: This refers to a sign that something unfortunate might happen.
A portent of things to come: This phrase emphasises "portend" as a way to highlight a significant future event, often negative.
Smell trouble brewing: This informal idiom suggests a developing problem.
These phrases can be used interchangeably depending on the context and desired level of formality.
Posts Related to Portend
Source Information
Definition of portend from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
