Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who carries or announces important news: A herald is a messenger, especially one who makes public announcements or proclamations.
   • A sign or indication that something is about to happen: A herald can be something that precedes and signals the approach of a future event.

2. Verb:

   • To be a sign that something is going to happen: To herald means to signal the approach or arrival of something.
   • To greet or welcome someone or something enthusiastically, often with public praise: To herald can mean to acclaim or announce something with great approval.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The king's herald announced the new decree to the crowd.
  • The first robin is often seen as a herald of spring.

• Verb:

  • The invention of the telegraph heralded a new era in communication.
  • The new policy was heralded as a major breakthrough for human rights.

Advanced Usage

• "To herald from": To originate or come from a particular place. (Note: This is a less common, more literary usage).
  • His family heralds from a small village in the mountains.

Variants and Related Words

• Heraldic (adj): Relating to heraldry or coats of arms.
  • The shield displayed heraldic symbols of the family's history.
• Heraldry (n): The system by which coats of arms and other armorial bearings are devised, described, and regulated.
  • He studied heraldry to understand the medieval symbols.

Synonyms

• Noun (Messenger): Forerunner, harbinger, precursor, announcer, courier.
• Verb (Announce/Signal): Proclaim, announce, usher in, foreshadow, presage, indicate.

Related Phrases

• "Herald the dawn of": To signal the beginning of a new period.
  • This treaty could herald the dawn of a lasting peace.

Idioms

• "Herald of doom": A person or thing that predicts or signals bad news or disaster.
  • The dark clouds were seen as a herald of doom by the sailors.

Noun

1. something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
2. (formal) a person who announces important news
   • the chieftain had a herald who announced his arrival with a trumpet

Verb

1. greet enthusiastically or joyfully
2. praise vociferously
   • The critics hailed the young pianist as a new Rubinstein
3. foreshadow or presage