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. “Doomed to feel the great Idomeneus' portended steel.” Pope.
Syn. — To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur; presage; foreshadow; threaten.