herald

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noun her·ald \ˈher-əld, ˈhe-rəld\

Definition of herald

1a : an official at a tournament of arms (see ³arm 1a) with duties including the making of announcements and the marshaling of combatantsb : an officer with the status of ambassador acting as official messenger between leaders especially in warc (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 Mercury was the gods' herald.
3a : one that precedes or foreshadows heralds of a coming stormb : one that conveys news or proclaims : announcer it was the lark, the herald of the morn — William Shakespearec : one who actively promotes or advocates : exponent

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Examples of herald in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology 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

First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of herald

forerunner, precursor, harbinger, herald mean one that goes before or announces the coming of another. forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage. the blockade was the forerunner of war precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another. 18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event. their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season the herald of a new age in medicine

Other Heraldry Terms

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

herald

verb her·ald

Definition of herald

transitive verb
1 : to give notice of : announce a gong used to herald the new year the approach of a cold air mass … is heralded by a shift of the wind — P. E. James
2a : to greet especially with enthusiasm : hail doctors are heralding a new drugb : publicize a highly heralded event
3 : to signal the approach of : foreshadow The technology heralded a new age of space exploration.

See herald defined for English-language learners

Examples of herald in a Sentence

Rain heralds the arrival of spring.
The technology heralded a new age of space exploration.

Did You Know?

The exact origin of "herald" is uncertain, but it is thought to derive from Germanic roots. Specifically, etymologists believe that "herald" developed from an assumed Frankish compound whose first component is akin to the Old High German heri-, meaning "army," and whose second component is akin to the Old High German word waltan, meaning "to rule." When "herald" first appeared on the scene in the 14th century, it referred to an official at a tournament of arms whose duties included the making of announcements. The verb forms, extending the "announcement" idea, soon followed.

Origin and Etymology of herald

see ¹herald

First Known Use: 14th century

HERALD Defined for English Language Learners

herald

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noun her·ald \ˈher-əld, ˈhe-rəld\

Definition of herald for English Language Learners

: a sign that something will happen
: an official messenger in the past

herald

verb her·ald

Definition of herald for English Language Learners

: to be a sign of (something that is beginning to happen or will happen soon)
: to greet (someone or something) with enthusiasm

HERALD Defined for Kids

herald

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noun her·ald \ˈher-əld\

Definition of herald for Students

1 : an official messenger
2 : a person who brings news or announces something

herald

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verb her·ald

Definition of herald for Students

heralded

;

heralding

1 : to give notice of : announce
2 : foretell … in his sleep he heard the faintest sound and knew whether it heralded peace or peril. — Jack London, The Call of the Wild