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a portent of sth
The dark clouds were a portent of the coming storm.
乌云是即将来临的风暴的前兆。
预兆；征兆；（尤指）凶兆
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
预兆；征兆；（尤指）凶兆
A sign or warning that something, especially something bad, is going to happen; an omen.
The dark clouds were a portent of the coming storm.
乌云是即将来临的风暴的前兆。
预示即将发生的事件,尤指不幸或邪恶的事件；预兆
Something that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.
某事即将发生的预兆
a sign of something about to happen
预示；意义
A portending; significance
被视为不寻常的事物；奇迹；奇才
Something regarded as portentous; a marvel; prodigy.
The dark clouds gathering on the horizon were a portent of the approaching storm.
地平线上聚集的乌云是暴风雨即将来临的前兆。
Many saw the sudden drop in stock prices as an ominous portent of economic recession.
许多人认为股价突然下跌是经济衰退的不祥预兆。
In ancient Rome, the flight of birds was interpreted as a portent from the gods.
在古罗马，鸟类的飞行被解读为来自神明的预兆。
The dark clouds were a portent of the coming storm.
乌云是即将来临的风暴的前兆。
The sudden silence was a portent that something was wrong.
突然的寂静是出事的预兆。
These signs are portents of future success.
这些迹象是未来成功的预兆。
Not this
The dark clouds portent a storm.
Use this
The dark clouds portend a storm.
‘portent’是名词，意为‘前兆’，不能当动词用。动词应为‘portend’，表示‘预示’。
Not this
That black cat was portent of bad luck.
Use this
That black cat was a portent of bad luck.
‘portent’是可数名词，表示‘前兆’时通常需要不定冠词或复数形式，不可单独使用。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
战争的预兆
The unusual bird was seen as a portent of war.
那只怪鸟被视为战争的预兆。
不祥之兆
The sky darkened, an ominous portent of the coming storm.
天空暗了下来，这是暴风雨即将来临的不祥之兆。
未来事情的预兆
The company's falling sales were a portent of things to come.
公司销售额下降是即将发生的事情的预兆。
把某事解释为预兆
Many people interpreted the eclipse as a portent of disaster.
许多人把这次日食解释为灾难的预兆。
对未来的预示
The peace treaty was a hopeful portent for the future.
这份和平条约是对未来充满希望的预示。
未来之事的前兆
The economic downturn was a portent of things to come.
经济衰退是未来事态的前兆。
不祥之兆
The howling wind was an ill portent for the sailors.
呼啸的风对水手来说是不祥之兆。
厄运的预兆
Their silence was a portent of doom.
他们的沉默是厄运的预兆。
Use portent naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
把 portent 拆成 port(港口)+ent，想象港口出现异常天象，预示风暴将至——凶兆。
语域：formal 常见场景：literary writing、formal prose、news commentary portent 是较正式、带文学色彩的用词，通常出现在书面叙述或严肃语境中，日常口语较少用。它多指“预兆、凶兆”，语气比 omen 更郑重；若指奇事、奇人，则偏向古雅或修辞用法。
可数名词，常与of连用
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.