Word: portentous
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...round resplendence of their portly verbiage, verbatim copies of the new Australian Customs Proclamation were read in Manhattan last week, with relish for their quaintness, with dismay for their portent...
Travelers returning from Italy last week told of a striking portent in connection with Signor Benito Mussolini's fiery speaking tour on which he thundered against the "enemies of Italy" (without mentioning them) at Leghorn, Florence, Milan (TIME, May 26, et seq.). Perhaps with intent to frighten would-be assassins, an astonishing poster was stuck up everywhere. It showed the face of Il Duce in thunder-black silhouette. Circling his face in lightning-like letters were these words: "GOD SENT US THIS MAN! WOE BETIDE HIM WHO HARMS...
...common knowledge that Mr. Chrysler, like other Manhattan landlords, was having trouble finding tenants. Passersby thought they saw signs of economizing in the dimming of the building's lobby lights at night and the failure of searchlights to play on the 1,046-ft. pinnacle as advertised. Another seeming portent was a lien on the building filed by Architect William Van Alen to collect $725,000 of the $865,000 he claimed was due him. Most persistent and grave of all rumors was the story that Mr. Chrysler no longer held control of Chrysler Building Corp. (not connected with Chrysler...
...their pretensions of wisdom, politicians are comparatively ignorant of what the great inarticulate mass of U. S. voters think about their manner of government. Jobholders from the President down ache for signs and portents. They watch the tall immobile grass of democracy for surface stirrings. Last week out of Massachusetts came an important sign and portent, a shrill whistling wind, like the first ominous pipings of a hurricane, which swayed the tall grass violently...