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harbinger
- 3 dictionary resultshar⋅bin⋅ger
[hahr-bin-jer] 
bɪn
–noun
| 1. | a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald. |
| 2. | anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign: Frost is a harbinger of winter. |
| 3. | a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc., to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations. |
–verb (used with object)
| 4. | to act as harbinger to; herald the coming of. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Link To harbinger
| har·bin·ger (här'bĭn-jər) n. One that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner. tr.v. har·bin·gered, har·bin·ger·ing, har·bin·gers To signal the approach of; presage. [Middle English herbengar, person sent ahead to arrange lodgings, from Old French herbergeor, from herbergier, to provide lodging for, from herberge, lodging, of Germanic origin; see koro- in Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
harbinger
c.1471, herbengar "one sent ahead to arrange lodgings" (for a monarch, an army, etc.), alt. of M.E. herberger "provider of shelter, innkeeper" (c.1175), from O.Fr. herbergeor, from herbergier "provide lodging," from herber "lodging, shelter," from Frank. *heriberga "lodging, inn" (cf. O.S., O.H.G. heriberga "army shelter," from heri "army" + berga "shelter"), see harbor. Sense of "forerunner" is 1550. Intrusive -n- is 15c. (see messenger).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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