The Venerable Bede asserted: ' comets portend revolutions of kingdoms, pestilence, war, winds or heat'
B Russell - The impact of science no society
Venerable Bede
Pronunciation:
\ˈve-nər(-ə)-bəl, ˈven-rə-bəl\
Function:
adjective
Date:
15th century
1: deserving to be venerated —used as a title for an Anglican archdeacon or for a Roman Catholic who has been accorded the lowest of three degrees of recognition for sanctity
2: made sacred especially by religious or historical association
3 a: calling forth respect through age, character, and attainments <a venerable jazz musician>; broadly : conveying an impression of aged goodness and benevolence <encouraged by the venerable doctor's head-nodding> b: impressive by reason of age <under venerable pines>
Pronunciation:
\pȯr-ˈtend\
Function:
transitive verb
Etymology:
Middle English, from Latin portendere, from por- forward (akin to per through) + tendere to stretch — more at for, thin
Date:
15th century
1 : to give an omen or anticipatory sign of
2 : indicate, signify
