Word of the Day
November 5, 2025
Portent
An indication of something important or calamitous about to occur, an omen; a prophetic or threatening significance; something amazing or marvelous, a prodigy.
From Latin 'portentum' meaning a sign, omen, or monster, derived from 'portendere' meaning to foretell or predict.
Usage Examples
- The election results served as a portent of the political shifts to come in major cities.
- Many saw the low voter turnout as a portent of declining civic engagement.
- The coordinated global reduction in beef cattle could be a portent of manufactured food scarcity.
From the Show
Kim Monson selected the word portent to describe the ominous implications of radical activist victories across the November 5, 2025 election results, particularly the mayoral race in New York City.