PORTENDS is a verb that means to indicate or suggest something about the future. It is related to other words such as AUGURS (6 letters), BODES (5 letters), and PRESAGES (8 letters). AUGURS refers to an ancient Roman religious official who interpreted signs from nature to predict the future. BODES is similar to portends, but it is more of a warning or omen of something bad. PRESAGES is also similar to portends, but it is more of a prediction of something good. All three terms are used to describe an indication of what may happen in the future.