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Portend vs Foreshow - What's the difference?

portend | foreshow | Synonyms |

Portend is a synonym of foreshow.


As verbs the difference between portend and foreshow

is that portend is to serve as a warning or omen while foreshow is (archaic) to show in advance; to foretell, predict.

As a noun foreshow is

(obsolete) a manifestation in advance; a prior indication.

portend

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • to serve as a warning or omen
  • * John Milton, Paradise Lost
    • A kingdom they portend thee, but what kingdom, / Real or allegoric, I discern not; Nor when: eternal sure--as without end,
  • to signify; to denote
    • Let it be known that the Rapture portends the End of Days.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=June 26 , author=Genevieve Koski , title=Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=When the staccato, Neptunes-ian single “Boyfriend” was released in March, musical prognosticators were quick to peg the album it portended , Believe, as Justin Bieber’s Justified, a grown-and-sexy, R&B-centric departure that evolved millennial teenybopper Justin Timberlake into one of the unifying pop-music figures of the aughts.}}

    Synonyms

    * foreshadow * presage

    Related terms

    * portent * portentous

    See also

    * harbinger

    foreshow

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) foreschewen, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) voorschouwen, (etyl) vorschauen.

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Verb

  • (archaic) To show in advance; to foretell, predict.
  • (obsolete) To foreshadow or prefigure.
  • *1841 , Francis Bacon, Basil Montagu, The Works of Francis Bacon, Lord Chancellor of England :
    • But if the rays break forth out of the middle, or dispersed, and its exterior body, or the out parts of it, be covered with clouds, it foreshows great tempests both of wind and rain.

    Etymology 2

    From .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A manifestation in advance; a prior indication.
  • *, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.139:
    • The fore-shew of their inclination whilest they are young is so uncertaine.