harbinger
English
WOTD – 26 March 2007
Etymology
Originally, a person that is sent in advance to arrange lodgings. From Middle English herbergeour, from Old French herbergeor (French hébergeur), from Frankish *heriberga (“lodging, inn”, literally “army shelter”), from Proto-Germanic *harjaz (“army”) + *bergô (“protection”). Compare German Herberge, Italian albergo, Dutch herberg, English harbor. More at here, borrow.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɑːbɪndʒə/
- (US) enPR: härʹbĭnjər, IPA(key): /ˈhɑɹbɪndʒəɹ/
Audio (US) (file) Audio (AU) (file)
Noun
harbinger (plural harbingers)
- A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.
- Landor
- I knew by these harbingers who were coming.
- Landor
- (obsolete) One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the English royal household who formerly preceded the court when travelling, to provide and prepare lodgings.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Fuller to this entry?)
Synonyms
Translations
that which foretells the coming of something
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Further reading
Verb
harbinger (third-person singular simple present harbingers, present participle harbingering, simple past and past participle harbingered)
Synonyms
Translations
to announce
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See also
References
- harbinger in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
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