herald

Meaning

Noun

1. A messenger, especially one bringing important news.
2. A harbinger, giving signs of things to come.
3. An official whose speciality is heraldry, especially one between the ranks of pursuivant and king-of-arms
4. A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix.
5. A handbill consisting of an advertisement.

Verb

1. (figuratively, often, transitive) To proclaim or announce an event.
2. (passive, transitive, usually) To greet something with excitement; to hail.

Synonyms

messenger

announce

harbinger

forerunner

proclaim

precursor

hail

portend

presage

declare

pioneer

panegyrist

courier

predecessor

make known

outrider

town crier

acclaim

announcer

annunciate

bard

communicate

crier

delivery boy

emissary

foretell

inform

orderly

pathfinder

portent

report

trumpeter

errand-boy

hint

impart

imply

pass off for

encomiast

delegate

notify

groundbreaker

outguess

delate

convey

previous notice

call

broadcast

pre-announce

post

preach

Translations

héraut

heraldo

arauto

araldo

anunciar

verkünden

heraut

uitbazuinen

Herold

annoncer

anunciar

herald

ankündigen

Vorbote

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɛɹəld/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: herald

Cognate with French: héraut

In summary

From Latin heraldus, from Middle English herald, herauld, heraud, from Anglo-Norman heraud, from Old French heraut, hiraut (modern French héraut), from Frankish *heriwald, from Proto-Germanic *harjawaldaz, a compound consisting of Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“army”) + *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong”). Doublet of Harold and Harald; compare Walter, which has these elements reversed.

Sentences

Experts of geology agree: Yesterday's tsunami was just a herald of the imminent apocalypse .