Portend
Portend is a verb meaning to be a sign or warning that something, especially something significant or calamitous, will happen; to foreshadow or presage. It is typically used to describe indicators that suggest an outcome without guaranteeing it. The word can take a that-clause or a noun phrase after it, as in “These signs portend trouble ahead” or “The decline in exports portends a slowdown.”
Etymology and related forms: Portend comes from Old French portendre, from Latin portendere, meaning to foretell.
Usage and nuances: Portend is often found in formal or literary writing, though it remains valid in
Examples in context: “The sudden drop in temperatures portends an early winter.” “Rising unemployment portends broader
See also: portent, foreshadow, presage, bode. Portent is the noun form for the sign or omen itself;