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It may seem like a stretch to say that portend, beloved verb of seers, soothsayers, and meteorologists alike, is related to tendon—the word we use to refer to the dense white fibrous tissue that helps us, well, stretch—but it’s likely true. Portend comes from the Latin verb portendere (“to predict or foretell”), which in turn developed as a combination of the prefix por- (“forward”) and the verb tendere (“to stretch”). Tendere is thought to have led to tendon, among other words. So you might imagine portend as having a literal meaning of “stretching forward to predict.” In any event, the history of the word surely showcases the flexibility of our language.
Examples of portend in a Sentence
Valerie Monroe, Allure, 25 Dec. 2024
So her early-November poll sent shock waves across the political class, who debated whether her findings portended an unaccounted-for Harris advantage.
—Elahe Izadi, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Long voting lines and robust fundraising support for Vice President Harris seemed to portend high turnout.
—Monica Eng, Axios, 27 Nov. 2024
The heart with an arrow through it portended a $39.99 vinyl drop ($57 after tax and shipping).
—Bryan West, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for portend 
Dictionary Entries Near portend
Cite this Entry
“Portend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portend. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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portend
verb
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