herald

¹her·ald

noun \ˈher-əld, ˈhe-rəld\

Definition of HERALD

1

a : an official at a tournament of arms with duties including the making of announcements and the marshaling of combatants b : an officer with the status of ambassador acting as official messenger between leaders especially in war c (1) : officer of arms (2) : an officer of arms ranking above a pursuivant and below a king of arms

2

: an official crier or messenger

3

a : one that precedes or foreshadows b : one that conveys news or proclaims : announcer c : one who actively promotes or advocates : exponent

Examples of HERALD

1. The early flowers are heralds of spring.
2. Mercury was the herald of the Roman gods.

Origin of HERALD

Middle English, from Anglo-French heraud, herald, from Frankish *heriwald-, literally, leader of an armed force, from *heri- army + *wald- rule; akin to Old High German heri- army, waltan to rule — more at harry, wield

Related to HERALD

Synonyms: advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, champion, expounder, espouser, friend, gospeler (or gospeller), exponent, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight

Antonyms: adversary, antagonist, opponent

Related Words: loyalist, partisan (also partizan), stalwart; adherent, cohort, disciple, follower; interpreter; applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler

Near Antonyms: enemy, foe, rival; belittler, critic, faultfinder

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at forerunner

Other Heraldry Terms

blazon, cachet, couchant, dormant, escutcheon, potent, standard, totem