herald Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (formal) a person who announces important news
    trumpeter.
    • the chieftain had a herald who announced his arrival with a trumpet
  2. noun something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
    predecessor; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.
  3. verb foreshadow or presage
    announce; foretell; harbinger; annunciate.
  4. verb praise vociferously
    acclaim; hail.
    • The critics hailed the young pianist as a new Rubinstein
  5. verb greet enthusiastically or joyfully
    hail.

WordNet

Her"ald noun
Etymology
OE. herald, heraud, OF. heralt, heraut, herault, F. héraut, LL. heraldus, haraldus, fr. (assumed) OHG. heriwalto, hariwaldo, a (civil) officer who serves the army; hari, heri, army + waltan to manage, govern, G. walten; akin to E. wield. See Harry, Wield.
Definitions
  1. (Antiq.) An officer whose business was to denounce or proclaim war, to challenge to battle, to proclaim peace, and to bear messages from the commander of an army. He was invested with a sacred and inviolable character.
  2. In the Middle Ages, the officer charged with the above duties, and also with the care of genealogies, of the rights and privileges of noble families, and especially of armorial bearings. In modern times, some vestiges of this office remain, especially in England. See Heralds' College (below), and King-at-Arms.
  3. A proclaimer; one who, or that which, publishes or announces; as, the herald of another's fame. Shak.
  4. A forerunner; a a precursor; a harbinger.
    It was the lark, the herald of the morn. Shak.
  5. Any messenger. "My herald is returned." Shak.
Her"ald transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. OF. herauder, heraulder.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Heralded; present participle & verbal noun Heralding
Definitions
  1. To introduce, or give tidings of, as by a herald; to proclaim; to announce; to foretell; to usher in. Shak.

Webster 1913