[har.bin.ger] n [ME herbergere, fr. MF, host, fr. herberge hostelry, of Gmc origin; akin to OHG heriberga] (14c) 1 archaic: a person sent ahead to provide lodgings
2. a: one that pioneers in or initiates a major change: precursor b: one that presages or foreshadows what is to come syn see forerunner
[2]harbinger vt (1646): to be a harbinger of: presage