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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
Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024
David Becker, a CBS News election law contributor and the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, cautioned that the breakdown of early voting by party does not portend the outcome of the election.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
Fresh comments from several top Fed officials shed new light on why the central bank went with a large rate cut last week and what that portends for the future.
—Neil Irwin, Axios, 23 Sep. 2024
Glover was terrified by what the sudden pain might portend.
—Sandra G. Boodman, Washington Post, 13 July 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 28 Nov. 2024.
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portend
verb
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