Harbinger definition
Thunder is an example of a harbinger of a rainstorm.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Origin of harbinger
- Middle English herbengar person sent ahead to arrange lodgings from Old French herbergeor from herbergier to provide lodging for from herberge lodging of Germanic origin koro- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Originally, a person that is sent in advance to provide lodgings. From Middle English herbergeour, from Old French herbergeor (> French hébergeur, from héberger (“to accommodate, put up”), from Frankish *heriberga (“lodging, inn”, literally “army shelter”), from Proto-Germanic *harjaz (“army”) + *bergô (“protection”). Compare German Herberge, Italian albergo, Dutch herberg, English harbour. More at here, borrow.
From Wiktionary