Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [pawr-tend, pohr-]
- /pɔrˈtɛnd, poʊr-/
- /pɔːˈtend/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [pawr-tend, pohr-]
- /pɔrˈtɛnd, poʊr-/
Definitions of portending word
- verb with object portending to indicate in advance; to foreshadow or presage, as an omen does: The street incident may portend a general uprising. 1
- verb with object portending to signify; mean. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of portending
First appearance:
before 1400 One of the 24% oldest English words
1400-50; late Middle English < Latin portendere to point out, indicate, portend, variant of prōtendere to extend. See pro-1, tend1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Portending
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
portending popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 74% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 69% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
portending usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for portending
adj portending
- delphian — a native or inhabitant of Delphi.
- impendent — impending.
- impending — about to happen; imminent: their impending marriage.
- in the cards — a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card.
- in the offing — the more distant part of the sea seen from the shore, beyond the anchoring ground.
adjective portending
- comminatory — Threatening, punitive, or vengeful.
- oracular — of the nature of, resembling, or suggesting an oracle: an oracular response.
Top questions with portending
- what does portending mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with p
- Words starting with po
- Words starting with por
- Words starting with port
- Words starting with porte
- Words starting with porten
- Words starting with portend
- Words starting with portendi
- Words starting with portendin
- Words starting with portending