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Webster 1913 Edition


Messenger

Mes′sen-ger

,
Noun.
[OE.
messager
, OF.
messagier
, F.
messager
. See
Message
.]
1.
One who bears a message; the bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice, or invitation, from one person to another, or to a public body; specifically, an office servant who bears messages.
2.
One who, or that which, foreshows, or foretells.
Yon gray lines
That fret the clouds are
messengers
of day.
Shakespeare
3.
(Naut.)
A hawser passed round the capstan, and having its two ends lashed together to form an endless rope or chain; – formerly used for heaving in the cable.
4.
(Law)
A person appointed to perform certain ministerial duties under bankrupt and insolvent laws, such as to take charge of the estate of the bankrupt or insolvent.
Bouvier. Tomlins.
Syn. – Carrier; intelligencer; courier; harbinger; forerunner; precursor; herald.
Messenger bird
,
the secretary bird, from its swiftness.

Definition 2024


messenger

messenger

English

Noun

messenger (plural messengers)

  1. One who brings messages.
  2. (nautical) A light line with which a heavier line may be hauled e.g. from the deck of a ship to the pier.
  3. The supporting member of an aerial cable (electric power or telephone or data).
  4. (law) A person appointed to perform certain ministerial duties under bankrupt and insolvent laws, such as to take charge of the estate of the bankrupt or insolvent.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bouvier to this entry?)
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Tomlins to this entry?)

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

messenger (third-person singular simple present messengers, present participle messengering, simple past and past participle messengered)

  1. (transitive) To send something by messenger.
    I'll messenger over the signed documents.