n.
Pronunciation: ' här-b ə n-j ə r
Function: 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
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
synonyms see FORERUNNER