Portent

Pronunciation: /ˈpɔr.tənt/

Definitions of portent

noun a sign or warning that something momentous or calamitous is likely to happen

Example Sentences

A1 The dark clouds were a portent of an upcoming storm.

A2 The sudden drop in temperature was seen as a portent of winter's arrival.

B1 The strange behavior of the animals was considered a portent of an earthquake.

B2 The eerie silence in the forest was a portent of danger lurking nearby.

C1 The politician's controversial speech was seen as a portent of future unrest.

C2 The sudden resignation of the CEO was a portent of major changes within the company.

Examples of portent in a Sentence

formal The dark clouds gathering in the sky were seen as a portent of an impending storm.

informal Seeing a black cat cross your path is often considered a portent of bad luck.

slang The sudden chill in the air was a real portent that something was about to go down.

figurative The sudden drop in stock prices was a portent of the economic downturn ahead.

Grammatical Forms of portent

• past tense: portended
• plural: portents
• comparative: more portent
• superlative: most portent
• present tense: portends
• future tense: will portend
• perfect tense: has portended
• continuous tense: is portending
• singular: portent
• positive degree: portent
• infinitive: to portend
• gerund: portending
• participle: portending

Origin and Evolution of portent

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'portent' originated from the Latin word 'portentum', which means a sign or omen.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'portent' has evolved to encompass not just signs or omens, but also events or circumstances that are seen as warning of future events.