English Explanatory Dictionary

herald

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A messenger, especially one bringing important news.
  2. A harbinger, giving signs of things to come.
  3. An official whose speciality is heraldry, especially one between the ranks of pursuivant and king-of-arms
  4. A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix.
  5. A handbill consisting of an advertisement.
verb
  1. To proclaim or announce an event.
  2. To greet something with excitement; to hail.
noun
  1. Alternative form of hareld (“long-tailed duck”).
name
  1. A surname.
  2. A census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛɹ.əld/ en-us-herald.ogg

Word forms

herald heralds heralding heralded

Etymology

From Latin heraldus, 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”). Doublet of Harold and Harald; compare Walter, which has these elements reversed.

Synonyms

bode pursuivant disclose make known announce forerun blare declare herald impart publish proclaim promulgate promulge

Related words

heraldic heraldry

Derived words

coherald heraldess heraldist herald moth herald patch heraldship heraldy heralder unheralded
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