HARBINGER

I. noun Etymology: Middle English herbergere, from Anglo-French, host, from herberge camp, lodgings, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German heriberga Date: 14th century a person sent ahead to provide lodgings, 2. one that pioneers in or initiates a major change ; precursor , one that presages or foreshadows what is to come, see: forerunner II. transitive verb Date: 1646 to be a ~ of ; presage