v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Portended; p. pr. & vb. n. Portending. ] [ L. portendre, portentum, to foretell, to predict, to impend, from an old preposition used in comp. + tendere to stretch. See Position, Tend. ] 1. To indicate (events, misfortunes, etc.) as in future; to foreshow; to foretoken; to bode; -- now used esp. of unpropitious signs. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many signs portended a dark and stormy day. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stretch out before. [ R. ] “Doomed to feel the great Idomeneus' portended steel.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur; presage; foreshadow; threaten. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of foreshowing; foreboding. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. portentum. See Portend. ] That which portends, or foretoken; esp., that which portends evil; a sign of coming calamity; an omen; a sign. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

My loss by dire portents the god foretold. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Presaging; foreshadowing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. portentosus. ] 1. Of the nature of a portent; containing portents; foreshadowing, esp. foreshadowing ill; ominous. [ 1913 Webster ]

For, I believe, they are portentous things. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Victories of strange and almost portentous splendor. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; dreadful; as, a beast of portentous size. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Por*tent"ous*ly, adv. -- Por*tent"ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]