different between gesture vs portent

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin gestura (“a mode of action”), from Latin gerere (“to bear, reflexive bear oneself, behave, act”), past participle gestus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?d??est???/, /?d??s.t??(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d??s.t??/, /?d??s.t??/

Noun

gesture (plural gestures)

1. A motion of the limbs or body, especially one made to emphasize speech.

   The middle-finger gesture is really a nonverbal swear.

   This Web browser can be controlled with mouse gestures.
2. An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of attitude.

   We took flowers as a gesture of sympathy.
3. (obsolete) The manner of carrying the body; position of the body or limbs; posture.

Related terms

• countergesture
• gesticulate
• gesticulation
• gesticulative
• gestural
• gestureless
• gesturelike

Translations

Verb

gesture (third-person singular simple present gestures, present participle gesturing, simple past and past participle gestured)

1. (intransitive) To make a gesture or gestures.

   My dad said to never gesture with my hands when I talk.

   Never gesture at someone with a middle finger.

2. (transitive) To express something by a gesture or gestures.

   He gestured his disgust.

3. (transitive) To accompany or illustrate with gesture or action.
   • 1594, Richard Hooker, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie

     It is not orderly read, nor gestured as beseemeth.

Synonyms

• ((intransitive) make a gesture): gesticulate

Hyponyms

• ((intransitive) make a gesture): beckon

Translations

See also

• Appendix:Gestures

Further reading

• gesture in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• gesture in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Alemannic German

Adjective

gesture

1. Alternative form of gesturm

Latin

Participle

gest?re

1. vocative masculine singular of gest?rus

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin portentum, participle of portendere, from portend? (“I predict, I foretell”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??t?nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??t?nt/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /?po(?)?t?nt/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /?po?t?nt/

Noun

portent (plural portents)

1. Something that portends an event about to occur, especially an unfortunate or evil event; an omen.
2. A portending; significance

3. Something regarded as portentous; a marvel; prodigy.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:omen

Related terms

• portend
• portentous

Translations

References

Anagrams

• torpent

French

Pronunciation

Verb

portent

1. third-person plural present indicative of porter
2. third-person plural present subjunctive of porter

Latin

Verb

portent

1. third-person plural present active subjunctive of port?