portent
portent Lexical Profile
portent Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A sign or warning that something momentous or calamitous is likely to happen.
"The sudden drop in market confidence was viewed by economists as a grim portent of an approaching recession."
An exceptional or wonderful person or thing; a marvel or prodigy.
"The young pianist was hailed by critics as a musical portent whose technical mastery defied her years."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the noun 'portent' (an omen or warning) with the related verb 'portend' (to foreshadow or warn of something). While a portent can technically herald any major event, in modern usage it almost exclusively carries a dark, ominous connotation.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin 'portentum', meaning a sign, omen, or monstrosity, from the verb 'portendere' (to stretch forth, reveal, or foretell), formed from 'por-' (forth) and 'tendere' (to stretch).