Word: portent
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Prime Minister Daniel Malan, 79, announced last week that he is stepping down from his No. 1 party job: leader of the Nationalist Party in Cape Province. The news-a portent that the paunchy old Boer may soon retire as Prime Minister-brought to the surface a longtime struggle for the succession. There are two chief candidates: Transvaal Boss Johannes Gerhardus Strydom (who recently changed the spelling of his name to Strijdom because it is "more Boerlike"), and pipe-puffing Theophilus Dönges, Minister of the Interior. Strijdom (pronounced Stray-dom) is a fanatic apostle of racial segregation, who represents...
...Portent of the future: in the lower house of the Japanese Diet last week, Kazuo Nakai, a government supporter, moved a resolution urging the government to "take appropriate steps to expedite Japan-China trade through relaxation of export bans." In a standing vote, all members present rose quickly to their feet in approval...
...looking around for likely buys at last week's lower prices. Furthermore, on the basis of past performance, companies could suffer some drop in profits without any damage to their dividends. Prewar, corporate dividends averaged 74% of earnings, whereas recently they have averaged only 58%. Another hopeful market portent; despite Dwight Eisenhower's plea for extension, the excess profits tax seemed all but dead come June 30 (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS...
...National Assembly. When the votes were cast, a precarious margin of nine-300 votes to 291-granted Antoine Pinay's government one more reprieve from the fate that comes with maddening regularity to all who try to govern modern France. The slimness of the majority was a portent of crises to come. It was another sign of the malaise of confusion and instability which dogs France's every effort to regain greatness...
Everything is delightfully off the record. The very important person outlines succinctly a few things he would like the public to know without having to broadcast them himself. They can't come from him. Spontaneously you understand. The columnist's eyebrows bristle with portent. The very important person has finished his brandy. Time to join the ladies. After a short Scotch fizzed with generalities, the wife of the very important person rises to her feet. Once they have gone, there is nothing left to say. As if the house were on fire, the less important guests are handed...