herald

[ her-uhld ]

noun

1. (formerly) a royal or official messenger, especially one representing a monarch in an ambassadorial capacity during wartime.
2. a person or thing that precedes or comes before; forerunner; harbinger:

   the returning swallows, those heralds of spring.

3. a person or thing that proclaims or announces:

   A good newspaper should be a herald of truth.

4. (in the Middle Ages) an officer who arranged tournaments and other functions, announced challenges, marshaled combatants, etc., and who was later employed also to arrange processions, funerals, etc., and to regulate the use of armorial bearings.
5. an official intermediate in rank between a king-of-arms and a pursuivant, in the Heralds' College in England or the Heralds' Office in Scotland.

verb (used with object)

1. to give news or tidings of; announce; proclaim:

   a publicity campaign to herald a new film.

2. to indicate or signal the coming of; usher in.

   Synonyms: tout, ballyhoo, publicize

herald

/ ˈhɛrəld /

noun

1. 1. a person who announces important news
   2. ( as modifier )

      herald angels

2. literary.
   a forerunner; harbinger
3. the intermediate rank of heraldic officer, between king-of-arms and pursuivant
4. (in the Middle Ages) an official at a tournament

verb

1. to announce publicly
2. to precede or usher in

Word History and Origins

Origin of herald¹

1300–50; Middle English herau ( l ) d < Old French herau ( l ) t < Frankish *heriwald, equivalent to *heri army + *wald commander ( wield ). Compare name Harold

Word History and Origins

Origin of herald¹

C14: from Old French herault, of Germanic origin; compare Old English here war; see wield

Example Sentences

Officials had closed two lanes, the New Zealand Herald reported, to allow them to continue along the route.

From BBC

The Times and Herald reported the Falkirk West MSP had submitted an application to stand again in the constituency.

From BBC

The Herald newspaper also reported that up to six women approached the SNP two years ago to complain about Salmond.

From BBC

In “The Wizard of Oz,” the residents of Munchkinland rejoice in song to herald the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.

From Salon

The Miami Herald reported that in his resignation letter, Wilson wrote: “A man is nothing without his conscience. It has become clear in recent days that I cannot join you on the road that lies before the agency.”

From Slate