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portent

Noun

IPA /ˈpɔːtent/

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Meaning in plain English

A sign interpreted as showing that something, often something bad, will happen.

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Pronunciation

portent/ˈpɔːtent/

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A storm appears in a story
Readers interpret it as a sign of trouble

A portent is a sign interpreted as pointing to future events.

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In the story, the strange silence is a portent of danger.
The students discussed the storm as a portent of later conflict in the play.

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In the story, the strange silence is a ________ of danger.

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portent — A sign interpreted as showing that something, often something bad, will happen.

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A sign interpreted as showing that something, often something bad, will happen.

Compare: In the story, the strange silence is a portent of danger.

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Word origin

From Latin portentum, meaning a sign or omen, related to portendere, to foreshadow.

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A portent of things to come suggests a sign of future events.

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