harbinger (ˈhɑːbɪndʒə
)
Definitions
noun
- a person or thing that announces or indicates the approach of something; forerunner
- obsolete a person sent in advance of a royal party or army to obtain lodgings for them
verb
- (tr) to announce the approach or arrival of
Word Origin
C12: from Old French herbergere, from herberge lodging, from Old Saxon heriberga; compare Old High German heriberga army shelter; see harry, boroughUsage examples
And once again, I'm sorry to be the harbinger of such bloody awful news.
, TEN STEPS TO HAPPINESS (2003)The 1.5 per cent cut in interest rates on small savings is the harbinger of a softer interest rate regime.
Business Today (2001)Each sees the others ' electoral fate as a harbinger of his own.
The Australian (2004)Typically, an 11-point e-mail is not a harbinger of interesting reading - in fact quite the reverse.
Times, Sunday Times (2002)As in 1929, Macmillan's defeat was a harbinger of the overall result.
, THE GUARDSMEN (2004)