From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Depiction of the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, then President of the United States, in 1868. Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government. Impeachment does not necessarily mean removal from office; it comprises only a formal statement of charges, akin to an indictment in criminal law, and thus is only the first step towards possible removal.
A porte-cochere is a French word for what was originally defined as a covered place at the entrance of a town house for a horse carriage to pull into for the purpose of picking up or dropping off passengers. This same term is used today for covered areas in front of buildings where cars pick up or drop off passengers.
Portend means to show a sign that something calamitous is about to happen. The teetering, tottering, pile of fine china piled up after the dinner party portends an imminent crash of broken plates and dishes. Portend is a verb warning of omens, or bad signs. Dark clouds rumbling in over a county fair in Kansas portend the thunderstorm and even tornado that is likely to ruin the festivities. Portend is a helpful way for authors to foreshadow dark events ahead in their stories.