herald — a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈherəld/
Example Sentences
- My cat's loud meowing at 5 AM is the unwelcome herald of feeding time.
- The smell of burnt toast heralded another cooking disaster in our kitchen.
- Scientists believe this discovery heralds a breakthrough in cancer treatment.
herald
NOUN[/ˈherəld/]
a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen
The royal herald announces the king's new decree to the gathered townspeople.
HE(he) + RALD(rolled) — as HE(he) RALD(rolled) out the giant red carpet, the servant managed to herald the start of the royal festival.
Finding the massive, glowing emerald, the miner blew his whistle to herald his amazing discovery.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'heraut', likely from Germanic roots related to 'heri' (army) and 'wald' (rule/leader). The word originally referred to a court official or messenger, eventually broadening to mean any sign or harbinger of things to come.
Breakdown
her- (army/host, from Germanic) + -ald/-aut (rule/leader) = herald (one who announces or precedes)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat's loud meowing at 5 AM is the unwelcome herald of feeding time.”
“The smell of burnt toast heralded another cooking disaster in our kitchen.”
“Scientists believe this discovery heralds a breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
“The company's new policy was heralded as a major step forward.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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