Portent

//ˈpɔɹtənt// noun

noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.

    "It was a portent of things to come."

  2. 2
    a sign of something about to happen wordnet
  3. 3
    A portending; significance

    "a howl of dire portent"

  4. 4
    Something regarded as portentous; a marvel; prodigy.

Synonyms

All synonyms
omenadumbrationadvance noticeauguryauspicebalefulness

Example

More examples

"So wailed Creusa, and in wild despair / filled all the palace with her sobs and cries, / when lo! a portent, wondrous to declare. / For while, 'twixt sorrowing parents' hands and eyes, / stood young Iulus, wildered with surprise, / up from the summit of his fair, young head / a tuft was seen of flickering flame to rise. / Gently and harmless to the touch it spread / around his tender brows, and on his temples fed."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin portentum, participle of portendere, from portendō (“I predict, I foretell”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.