Harbinger Definition

härbĭn-jər
harbingers
noun
harbingers
One that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner.
American Heritage
An advance representative of an army or royal party, who arranged for lodging, entertainment, etc.
Webster's New World
A person or thing that comes before to announce or give an indication of what follows; herald.
Webster's New World

A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.

Wiktionary
verb
harbingers
To signal the approach of; presage.
American Heritage
To serve as harbinger of.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Harbinger

Noun

Singular:
harbinger
Plural:
harbingers

Origin of Harbinger

  • Originally, a person that is sent in advance to provide lodgings. From Middle English herbergeour, from Old French herbergeor (> French hébergeur, from héberger (“to accommodate, put up”), from Frankish *heriberga (“lodging, inn”, literally “army shelter”), from Proto-Germanic *harjaz (“army”) + *bergô (“protection”). Compare German Herberge, Italian albergo, Dutch herberg, English harbour. More at here, borrow.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English herbengar person sent ahead to arrange lodgings from Old French herbergeor from herbergier to provide lodging for from herberge lodging of Germanic origin koro- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Harbinger Is Also Mentioned In

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to harbinger using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

harbinger