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.
© Webster 1913.