Portend \Por*tend"\, 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.

Many signs portended a dark and stormy day.
--Macaulay.

2. To stretch out before. [R.] ``Doomed to feel the great
Idomeneus' portended steel.'' --Pope.

Syn: To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur;
presage; foreshadow; threaten.