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   portent

   /ˈpɔːtɛnt/

   noun

   • 1. a sign or warning that a momentous or calamitous event is likely to happen: "many birds are regarded as being portents of death" Similar omensignindicationpresagewarningforewarningharbingeraugurysignalpromisethreatmenaceill omenforecastpredictionprognosticationprophecystraw in the windwriting on the wallhintauspicepremonitionpresentimentfeelingvague feelingfunny feelingfeeling in one's bonesforebodingmisgivingliterary:foretoken
   • ▪ future significance: "an omen of grave portent for the tribe" Similar significanceimportanceimportconsequencemeaningmeaningfulnessmomentmomentousnessweightweightinesscruciality
   • 2. an exceptional or wonderful person or thing: literary "what portent can be greater than a pious notary?"

   Word Origin late 16th century: from Latin portentum ‘omen, token’, from the verb portendere (see portend).

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • T

     1

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