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messenger definition

mes·sen·ger (mes′ən jər)

noun

    1. a person who carries a message or goes on an errand
    2. a person whose work is delivering telegrams, official dispatches, or the like
  2. Archaic a harbinger; forerunner
  3. Naut. a light line tied to a heavier one and used in pulling it as from a ship to a pier

Etymology: ME messengere (with unhistoric -n-) < OFr messagier: see message

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

messenger Synonyms

messenger

n.

bearer, minister, angel, prophet, dispatcher, herald, carrier, courier, runner, crier, errand boy, intermediary, envoy, emissary, internuncio, go-between, ambassador, commissionaire, flag-bearer, gofer*, boy*; see also agent 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

messenger Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • Satan: Some of them have ugly messengers of Satan, impudent devils haunting them.

Converse of object

  • shoot: Please don't shoot the messenger - we're only passing on our visitors ' advice!

Adjective modifier

  • instant: You're AIM, probably the most popular instant messenger out there.

Modifies a noun

  • molecule: Many of these plant molecules interfere with the activity of animal messenger molecules, with their synthesis or physiological activity or destruction.

Noun used with modifier

  • msn: Just looking for people to chat to on msn messenger.
messenger usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

messenger quotes

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.

-Bible (NewTestament)

He's an Anglo-Saxon Messengeröand those are Anglo- Saxon attitudes.

-Dodgson

Oh, no, the machine, the machine is necessary. A man comesintoagreat hotelandsays,Iama messenger. Who is this man? He disappears walking, there is no noise, nothing. Maybe he will never come back, maybe he will never deliver the message.But a man who rides up on a great machine, this man is responsible, this man exists. He will be given messages.

-Miller, Arthur

messenger quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"messenger." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/messenger>

APA Style

messenger. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/messenger

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