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Webster 1913 Edition

Harbinger

Har′bin-ger

(ha̤r′bĭn-jẽr)
,
Noun.
[OE.
herbergeour
, OF.
herbergeor
one who provides lodging, fr.
herbergier
to provide lodging, F.
héberger
, OF.
herberge
lodging, inn, F.
auberge
; of German origin. See
Harbor
.]
1.
One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the English royal household who formerly preceded the court when traveling, to provide and prepare lodgings.
Fuller.
2.
A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger.
I knew by these
harbingers
who were coming.
Landor.

Har′bin-ger

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Harbingered
(ha̤r′bĭn-jẽrd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Harbingering
.]
To usher in; to be a harbinger of.
“Thus did the star of religious freedom harbinger the day.”
Bancroft.

Webster 1828 Edition

Harbinger

H`ARBINGER

,
Noun.
[See Harbor. Harbinger is properly a person who goes to provide harbor or lodgings for those that follow.]
1.
In England, an officer of the king's household who rides a day's journey before the court when traveling, to provide lodgings and other accommodations.
2.
A forerunner; a precursor; that which precedes and gives notice of the expected arrival of something else.

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