MEANING
A sign thought to announce an important future event, often a harmful one.
Use it for
ominous signs; public anxiety; forecasts of great changeMake an unusual event matter because characters read it as a warning.
Words that belong together
- portent of war
- dire portent
- read the portents
On the page
The red comet became a portent of war in every village.
He dismissed the cracked crown as a bad repair, not a portent.
Even a welcome portent could unsettle a kingdom awaiting an heir.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- portent
Usage notes
Primary category: fantasy. More momentous and often more ominous than an ordinary hint; prediction remains an interpretation. Noun: portent; plural portents.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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