Added 2 October 2026
portent
/ˈpɔɹtənt/ noun
Latin root: portentum Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about portent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Something that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.
It was a portent of things to come.
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A portending; significance
a howl of dire portent
- Something regarded as portentous; a marvel; prodigy.
Origin
Borrowed from Latin portentum, participle of portendere, from portendō (“to predict, to foretell”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)