different between prognostic vs portent

English

Alternative forms

• prognostick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Medieval Latin prognosticus, from Ancient Greek ???????????? (progn?stikós, “foreknowing”), from ???- (pró-) + ????????? (gn?stikós, “of or for knowing, good at knowing”), from ???????? (gign?sk?, “to learn to know, to perceive, to mark, to learn”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p????n?st?k/, /p????n?st?k/

Adjective

prognostic (comparative more prognostic, superlative most prognostic)

1. Of, pertaining to or characterized by prognosis or prediction.

Synonyms

• foretelling
• predictive

Translations

Noun

prognostic (plural prognostics)

1. (rare, medicine) prognosis
   • 1935, T.S. Eliot, Murder in the Cathedral, Part I:

     There are several opinions as to what he meant
     But no one considers it a happy prognostic.

   • 1809, Bartholomew Parr, "PROGNOSIS" in The London Medical Dictionary

     The appearance of the tongue is closely connected with the sense of thirst, and is of considerable importance as a prognostic.

2. A sign by which a future event may be known or foretold.
   • 1710, Jonathan Swift, "A Description of a City Shower"

     Careful observers may foretell the hour
     (By sure prognostics) when to dread a show’r.
     While rain depends, the pensive cat gives o’er
     Her frolics, and pursues her tail no more.

3. A prediction of the future.
4. One who predicts the future.

Synonyms

• (sign): indication, sign, omen, foretelling, prediction

Related terms

• prognostatic
• prognosis
• prognosticable
• prognosticate

Anagrams

• topscoring

Middle French

Noun

prognostic m (plural prognostics)

1. prognostic (prediction about the future)

Descendants

• French: pronostic

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?