harbinger

[ hahr-bin-jer ]
See synonyms for harbinger on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc., to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations.

verb (used with object)
  1. to act as harbinger to; herald the coming of.

Origin of harbinger

1
First recorded in 1125–75; late Middle English herbenger, nasalized variant of Middle English herbegere, dissimilated variant of Old French herberg(i)ere “host,” equivalent to herberg(ier) “to shelter” (from Germanic; see harbor) + -iere -er2

Other words for harbinger

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for harbinger

harbinger

/ (ˈhɑːbɪndʒə) /


noun
  1. a person or thing that announces or indicates the approach of something; forerunner

  2. obsolete a person sent in advance of a royal party or army to obtain lodgings for them

verb
  1. (tr) to announce the approach or arrival of

Origin of harbinger

1
C12: from Old French herbergere, from herberge lodging, from Old Saxon heriberga; compare Old High German heriberga army shelter; see harry, borough

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012