Definition of HERALD

herald

Plural: heralds

Noun

  • (formal) a person who announces important news
    • "the chieftain had a herald who announced his arrival with a trumpet"
  • something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
  • A messenger, especially one bringing important news.
  • A harbinger, giving signs of things to come.
  • An official whose speciality is heraldry, especially one between the ranks of pursuivant and king-of-arms
  • A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix.
  • A handbill consisting of an advertisement.
  • Alternative form of hareld (“long-tailed duck”).

Verb

Verb Forms: heralded, heralding, heralds

  • To announce or proclaim formally; to foreshadow.
  • foreshadow or presage
  • praise vociferously
  • greet enthusiastically or joyfully
  • To proclaim or announce an event.
  • To greet something with excitement; to hail.

Examples

  • Daffodils are heralds of Spring.
  • Daffodils herald the Spring.
  • My opponent’s confident smile seemed to HERALD a powerful, high-scoring play.
  • Rouge Dragon is a herald at the College of Arms.
  • The film was heralded by critics.
  • The herald blew his trumpet and shouted that the King was dead.

Origin / 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.

Scrabble Score: 10

herald: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
herald: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
herald: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

herald: valid Words With Friends Word