herald
herald
Pronunciation
ˈ/hɛrəld/
her (ˈhɛr)
ˈ: Primary stress
h: /h/ (voiceless glottal fricative)
ɛ: /ɛ/ (open-mid front unrounded vowel)
r: /r/ (alveolar approximant)
ald (əld)
ə: /ə/ (schwa, mid-central unrounded vowel)
l: /l/ (alveolar lateral approximant)
d: /d/ (alveolar plosive)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
herald: (singular)
Example: "The herald announced the king's arrival."
heralds: (plural)
Example: "The heralds sounded their trumpets."
Verb:
herald: (present tense, base form)
Example: "These flowers herald the arrival of spring."
heralds: (third-person singular present)
Example: "The robin heralds the coming of spring."
heralded: (past tense and past participle)
Example: "The invention was heralded as a breakthrough."
heralding: (present participle)
Example: "The birds are heralding the new day."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1:
A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of something.
Example: "The robin is often seen as a herald of spring."
Synonyms: messenger, forerunner, precursor, harbinger, sign, indication.
Antonyms: end, conclusion, aftermath, result.
Definition 2:
Historically, an official messenger, especially one bringing news from the battlefield or carrying proclamations.
Synonyms: announcer, messenger, ambassador, envoy.
Antonyms: receiver, listener.
Verb:
Definition 1:
To signal or announce the arrival of something.
Example: "The first rays of dawn heralded the new day."
Synonyms: announce, proclaim, foretell, signal, indicate, presage, foreshadow.
Antonyms: conceal, hide, suppress, ignore, neglect.
Definition 2:
To publicly praise or celebrate.
Example: The new medicine was heralded as a major breakthrough.
Synonyms: acclaim, praise, celebrate, commend, extol.
Antonyms: criticize, condemn, denounce, disparage.
Adjective:
While "herald" is primarily a noun and verb, it's less commonly used as an adjective. However, we can create a descriptive adjective form by using "heraldic".
heraldic: Relating to heraldry, the system of coats of arms and other armorial bearings.
Example: "The castle displayed heraldic symbols of the royal family."
Synonyms: armorial, emblematic, symbolic.
Antonyms: plain, unadorned, simple.
Adverb:
There is no common adverb form of the word "herald".
Examples of Use
In News and Online Publications:
Political Events:
"The votes heralded a change for VFX workers, who have become pivotal to many productions over the past few decades." (Variety) This demonstrates the use of "herald" to signify a significant shift in a professional sector.
"Friday night's attacks herald a new dark chapter for Putin, one that is deeply familiar to him." (CNN) Here, "herald" is used to indicate the beginning of a new, potentially negative, phase in a political situation.
Technological Advancements:
"The technology heralded a new age of space exploration." (Merriam-Webster) This example shows how "herald" is used to describe the beginning of a new era brought about by technological progress.
Seasonal Changes:
"Azaleas and a bank of daffodils heralding spring seen from the west-facing front door." (Charlotte Observer) This is a classic example of "herald" used to describe natural signs of seasonal change.
In Entertainment:
Film and Television:
"The show was heralded for its highlighting of iconic and diverse neighborhoods and locations across Los Angeles that have sometimes been ignored by other Hollywood productions." (San Diego Union-Tribune) This shows the use of the word to show that a show was praised.
"But what's the festive season without Mariah Carey to herald it in?" (Rolling Stone) This example uses herald in popular culture.
Comic Books/Movies:
"Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star as the titular quartet, heroes who must defend the Earth against Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a ravenous space god who's hungry to devour the entire planet with the help of his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner)." (EW.com) This is an example of the word being used in reference to a well known comic book character.
In Literature and General Discourse:
"The early flowers are heralds of spring." (General discourse/common phrase) This is a very common usage, demonstrating the word's role in everyday language.
The word is used in many historical texts, to describe the work of official messengers.
10 Famous Quotes Using Herald
“Small acts of courage often herald great change.”
“My mentor said your habits herald your future long before it arrives.”
“History shows that whispers of unrest herald revolutions.”
“A poet wrote that the first bloom of spring will herald hope’s return.”
“Let discipline herald the success you seek.”
“Shifts in conscience often herald shifts in culture.”
“Revolutions herald a people’s refusal to remain silent.”
“Every challenge may herald a lesson you needed.”
“Leaders are judged by whether their choices herald healing or harm.”
“Hope can herald possibility even in the darkest season.”
Etymology
Where it Began:
The word "herald" comes from Old French, specifically the word "heraut."
This Old French word likely has its roots in Frankish, a Germanic language. The Frankish word might have been something like "*heriwald," which is a compound of "*heri" (meaning "army") and "*waldan" (meaning "to rule"). So, it essentially meant "army ruler" or "commander."
How it Changed:
Over time, the meaning shifted. Instead of referring to a military leader, "herald" started to refer to someone who made announcements, particularly in a royal or military context.
In medieval times, heralds were official messengers. They would carry messages, make proclamations, and announce important events, like battles, tournaments, or royal arrivals. They were also experts in coats of arms and family lineages.
The first known use of the word in English was in the 13th century. It entered the English language after the Norman conquest of England.
In Simple Terms:
Imagine a time when there were no newspapers or radios. To share important news, you needed someone to travel and announce it. That's what a herald did.
The word originally had a military connection, but it evolved to mean someone who announces or signals the coming of something.
So, in essence, "herald" has gone from meaning "army ruler" to "messenger" to, more generally, "someone or something that announces or signals."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Herald
Phrases and Idioms (Limited):
"To herald the dawn/spring/a new era":
This is a common phrase construction, meaning to announce or signal the beginning of something. It's more of a descriptive phrase than a strict idiom.
"Heralds of change":
This phrase is used to describe people or things that indicate or bring about significant change.
"Heralded as":
This is a very common phrase, as in, "The discovery was heralded as a major breakthrough." It means to be publicly acclaimed or announced as something important.
Why "Herald" Isn't Rich in Idioms:
"Herald" is a fairly formal word. Its primary meaning is quite literal (to announce). Idioms tend to arise from more everyday, figurative language.
The historical role of a herald was very specific, which may have limited its development into broader, more abstract idioms.
Supplementing with Synonymous Idioms and Phrases:
To capture similar meanings, we can use idioms with synonyms like "announce," "signal," or "foreshadow":
"To be a harbinger of":
"Harbinger" is a close synonym, and this phrase is often used to indicate a sign of something to come, often something negative.
"To give a heads-up":
This informal idiom means to give a warning or advance notice.
"To give a sign":
This is a very common phrase, that means to indicate something.
"To be a sign of the times":
This idiom means to be characteristic or indicative of the present period.
"To ring in":
This idiom, often used with the New Year, means to announce or celebrate the beginning of something.
"To blow the trumpet":
This idiom means to publicize or praise something loudly and enthusiastically.
Original/Creative Phrases:
"The quiet herald of a new idea":
This could be used to describe a subtle indication of an emerging concept.
"A herald of forgotten dreams":
This phrase could be used in a literary setting.
"The city's lights, a silent herald of the night":
This is a poetic way to describe the city lights at night.
While "herald" itself doesn't lend itself to many common idioms, we can effectively express similar meanings using synonyms and creative phrasing.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of herald from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
