Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French hiraut, from an Germanic compound whose first component is akin to Old High German heri army, and whose second is akin to Old High German waltan to rule; more at HARRY, WIELD
Pronunciation : 'her-&ld
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. messenger, official announcer; harbinger, forerunner; formerly a royal messenger. announce, proclaim; come before, precede. herald\her"ald\ , n. [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.].
2. (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.
3. 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.
4. a proclaimer; one who, or that which, publishes or announces; as, the herald of another's fame.
5. a forerunner; a a precursor; a harbinger. it was the lark, the herald of the morn.
6. any messenger. "my herald is returned.".
7. 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.
8. He was invested with a sacred and inviolable character.
9. 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.
10. In modern times, some vestiges of this office remain, especially in England.
11. See Heralds' College , and King-at-Arms.
12. A proclaimer; one who, or that which, publishes or announces; as, the herald of another's fame.
13. A forerunner; a a precursor; a harbinger.
14. Any messenger.
15. To introduce, or give tidings of, as by a herald; to proclaim; to announce; to foretell; to usher in. a person who announces important news; "the chieftain had a herald who announced his arrival with a trumpet".
16. 1. Something that heralds a future event or situation is a sign that it is going to happen or appear. the sultry evening that heralded the end of the baking hot summer.
17. Something that is a herald of a future event or situation is a sign that it is going to happen or appear. I welcome the report as a herald of more freedom, not less.
18. If an important event or action is heralded by people, announcements are made about it so that it is publicly known and expected. Janet Jackson's new album has been heralded by a massive media campaign Tonight's clash between Real Madrid and Arsenal is being heralded as the match of the season.
19. In former times, a herald was a person who delivered and announced important messages. Glasgow Herald, the.