portent
Something that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil eventSomething that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.
» In the past, traditional communities saw solar eclipses as portents of disaster.
Meaning
3 sensesSomething that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.
It was a portent of things to come.
Omen, (böses) Vorzeichen
знаме́ниеznaménije
A portending; significance
a howl of dire portent
Something regarded as portentous; a marvel; prodigy.
- a sign of something about to happen
Examples
2 sentencesIn the past, traditional communities saw solar eclipses as portents of disaster.
Somehow the silent snow, the waning traffic, the oncoming twilight, combined into a sense of ominous portent.
Translations
3 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Borrowed from Latin portentum, participle of portendere, from portendō (“to predict, to foBorrowed from Latin portentum, participle of portendere, from portendō (“to predict, to foretell”).
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Forms
plural: portentsSynonyms
5 synonyms- a sign of something about to happen:omenpresageprognosticprognosticationprodigy