Porte, pōrt, n. the Turkish government, so called from the 'High Gate,' or 'Sublime Porte,' the chief office of the Ottoman government.
Portend, por-tend′, v.t. to indicate the future by signs: to betoken: presage.—n. Por′tent, that which portends or foreshows: an evil omen.—adj. Portent′ous, serving to portend: foreshadowing ill: wonderful, dreadful, prodigious.—adv. Portent′ously. [L. portendĕre, portentum—pro, forth, tendĕre, to stretch.]
Porter, pōrt′ėr, n. a door-keeper or gate-keeper: one who waits at the door to receive messages:—fem. Port′eress, Port′ress.—n. Port′erage, the office or duty of a porter.—Porter's lodge, a house or an apartment near a gate for the use of the porter. [O. Fr. portier—Low L. portarius—L. porta, a gate.]
Porter, pōrt′ėr, n. one who carries burdens for hire: a dark-brown malt liquor, prob. because a favourite drink with London porters.—ns. Port′erage, carriage: charge made by a porter for carrying goods; Port′er-house, a restaurant; Port′erhouse-steak (U.S.), a choice cut of beef-steak next to the sirloin.—adv. Port′erly, like a porter: coarse. [O. Fr. porteur—L. portāre, to carry.]
Portfolio, pōrt-fō′li-ō, n. a portable case for loose papers, drawings, &c.: a collection of such papers: the office of a minister of state. [Sp. portafolio—L. portāre, to carry, folium, a leaf.]
Porthole, pōrt′hōl, n. a hole or opening in a ship's side for light and air, or for pointing a gun through. [Port, a gate, and hole.]
Portico, pōr′ti-kō, n. (archit.) a range of columns in the front of a building: a colonnade: a porch before the entrance to a building: the Stoic philosophy:—pl. Por′ticoes, Por′ticos.—adj. Por′ticoed, furnished with a portico. [It.,—L. porticus, a porch.]
Portière, por-tyār′, n. a curtain hung over the door or doorway of a room. [Fr.]
Portiforium, pōr-ti-fō′ri-um, n. a breviary:—pl. Portifō′ria.—Also Port′fory, Port′ous, Port′uary.
Portify, pōr′ti-fī, v.t. (hum.) to give one's self undue importance. [Port, the wine of that name, -fy, from L. facĕre, to make, from the saying, 'Claret would be port if it could.']