Hypertext Webster Gateway: "harbinger"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harbinger \Har"bin*ger\, n. [OE. herbergeour, OF. herbergeor one
who provides lodging, fr. herbergier to provide lodging, F.
h['e]berger, OF. herberge lodging, inn, F. auberge; of German
origin. See {Harbor}.]
1. One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the
English royal household who formerly preceded the court
when traveling, to provide and prepare lodgings. --Fuller.
2. A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger.
I knew by these harbingers who were coming.
--Landor.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harbinger \Har"bin*ger\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Harbingered}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Harbingering}.]
To usher in; to be a harbinger of. ``Thus did the star of
religious freedom harbinger the day.'' --Bancroft.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
harbinger
n : an indication of the approach of something or someone [syn:
{forerunner}, {herald}, {precursor}]
v : foreshadow or presage [syn: {announce}, {annunciate}, {foretell},
{herald}]
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