Portent
/ˈpɔːr.tent/noun
An event or sign believed to foreshadow something, especially something significant or ominous.
Did you know?Portent comes from Latin portentum, an omen or wonder, from portendere, literally “to foretell” or “stretch forth before,” showing how Romans framed signs as messages from the future.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch”
Latin
Latin
portendere
“to foretell, indicate beforehand”
Latin
Latin
portentum
“a sign, marvel, or ominous prodigy”
Late Latin
Latin
portentum
“an omen or wonder”
Middle English
English
portent
“an omen or sign of future events”
Modern English
English
portent
“an indication or warning of something to come”