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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
Shalom Lipner, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024
The company’s refinance volume rose in the quarter to $13.3 billion, up from $6.5 billion in the previous quarter, portending an upswing in momentum in the refinance market, even with higher interest rates on the table.
—Alena Botros, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2024
Macht, Deadline was first to report, will reprise his role as Harvey in a three-episode arc that does not portend a series-regular run.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
Ticket sales for The First Omen portended financial gloom for its distributor, Disney, pulling in $33 million domestically on a $30 million budget.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
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 30 Nov. 2024.
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portend
verb
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