You searched for: “portend
portend (verb), portends; portended; portending
1. To foreshadow or to warn people that something is going to happen: The thunder and lightening portended that a storm was about to take place.
2. To indicate or to signify in advance: The icy roads and winter snow storm were portending several auto accidents.
3. To predict or to forecast: The economist on TV was saying that leading economic indicators were portending a recession.
4. Etymology: from early 15th century, from Latin portendere, "to foretell"; originally, "to stretch forward"; from por-, a variant of pro-, "forth, forward" + tendere "to stretch, to extend."
To give a warning or threat.
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To indicate in advance that a disastrous thing will happen.
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pretend, portend, portent, potent
pretend (pri TEND) (verb)
1. To give a false impression; to make believe: When they were children, Etta's sisters and Julie used to dress up and pretend to be fairy princesses.
2. To make a false claim or assertion: Roger and Trina will pretend that they have tickets and hope to go to the parade.
portend (por TEND, pohr TEND) (verb)
To give a sign in anticipation of something; to suggest an omen: The dark clouds over the bay seem to portend a storm.
portent (POR tent", POHR tent") (noun)
That which foreshadows an event in a prophetic manner: The arrival of the seagulls in the farmer's field Is often the portent that it will rain in about two hours.
potent (POH n't") (adjective)
1. Powerful; mighty: The police proved to be a potent fighting force.
2. Referring to something producing powerful physical or chemical effects: Henry used a potent drug to fight the cancer.
3. Relating to something or someone having or exercising great power or influence: The higher interest rate was a potent factor in the economy.

The potent status of the newly elected mayor is a portent that he will pretend to be a friend of the people; however, some of his statements portend hidden taxes and a cut in services for the future.

(Latin: foreboding; anything perceived or happening that is believed to portend or to suggest that something is going to happen which may be a good or an evil event or circumstance in the future)