herald

Noun

• something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone

• (formal) a person who announces important news
  • the chieftain had a herald who announced his arrival with a trumpet
    

Verb

• greet enthusiastically or joyfully

• praise vociferously
  • The critics hailed the young pianist as a new Rubinstein
    

• foreshadow or presage

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  harbinger , forerunner , predecessor , precursor , trumpeter , hail , acclaim , announce , annunciate , foretell