a sign or warning of something that is going to happen in the future, especially when it is something unpleasant synonym omen预兆;征兆;先兆;(尤指)恶兆,凶兆 The event proved to be a portent of the disaster that was to come. 这一事件被证明是即将到来的灾难的预兆。 We shall try to reach an agreement but the portents are not good. 我们将努力达成协议,但前景不妙。
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latin portentum ‘omen, token’, from the verb portendere, based on pro- ‘forth’ + tendere ‘stretch’.