por·tent
noun/ˈpɔːtent/
/ˈpɔːrtent/
(literary)- 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.
事实证明,这一事件是即将发生的灾难的预兆。 - We shall try to reach an agreement but the portents are not good.
我们将努力达成协议,但预兆并不好。
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Latin portentum ‘omen, token’, from the verb portendere, based on pro- ‘forth’ + tendere ‘stretch’. - The event proved to be a portent of the disaster that was to come.