herald

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛɹəld/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛɹəld
• Homophone: Harold (Mary–marry–merry merger)

From Middle English herald, herauld, heraud, from Anglo-Norman heraud, from Old French heraut, hiraut (modern French héraut), from Frankish *heriwald, from Proto-Germanic *harjawaldaz, a compound consisting of Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“army”) + *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong”). Compare Walter, which has these elements reversed.

herald (plural heralds)

1. A messenger, especially one bringing important news.

   The herald blew his trumpet and shouted that the King was dead.

2. A harbinger, giving signs of things to come.

   Daffodils are heralds of Spring.

3. (heraldry) An official whose speciality is heraldry, especially one between the ranks of pursuivant and king-of-arms.

   Rouge Dragon is a herald at the College of Arms.

4. (entomology) A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix.
5. (advertising) A handbill consisting of an advertisement.
   • 1951, February 24, Billboard (page 52)

     New this season will be a 20-sheet poster depicting 21 K-M elephants parading to local Chevrolet agencies. Deal calls for use of the 20-sheet on poster panels where the auto agency has space allotment. Smaller versions of the same art also will be used.
     Circulation of Kelly-Miller heralds, which last season averaged between 5,000 and 6,000 copies per stand, will be in for one of the greatest boosts this year.

• (messenger): messenger
• (harbinger): harbinger
• (official whose speciality is heraldry): pursuivant

• heraldic
• heraldry

herald (third-person singular simple present heralds, present participle heralding, simple past and past participle heralded)

1. (transitive) To proclaim or announce an event.

   Daffodils herald the Spring.

   • 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67:

     Our arrival at Worcester is heralded by the appearance of the city's cathedral tower, a solid square structure that's dominated the skyline since the 12th century.

2. (transitive, usually passive) To greet something with excitement; to hail.

   The film was heralded by critics.

• (announce): disclose, make known; See also Thesaurus:announce

herald (plural heralds)

1. Alternative form of hareld (“long-tailed duck”)

• -hedral, Erdahl, Hadler, Halder, hardel, hareld, harled

Borrowed from English herald.

herald m (plural heralzi)

1. herald