harbinger

Meaning

Synonyms

Translations

Notes

Extra tools

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɑːbɪndʒə/

Inherited from Middle English

Cognate with French

Cognate with German

Cognate with Italian

Cognate with Dutch

Cognate with English

In summary

Originally, a person that is sent in advance to arrange lodgings. From Middle English herberjour, herbergeour, from Old French herbergeor (French hébergeur), from herbergier (“to set up camp; to shelter; to take shelter”) + -or (suffix forming agent nouns), from Old High German heribergan, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *harjabergu (“army camp, shelter”). Compare German Herberge, Italian albergo, Dutch herberg, English harbor. More at here, borrow.