harbinger

Meanings

Noun

• A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.
• One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the English royal household who formerly preceded the court when travelling, to provide and prepare lodgings.

Verb

• To announce or precede; to be a harbinger of.

Origin

• Originally, a person that is sent in advance to arrange lodgings. From Middle English herberjour, herbergeour, from Old French herbergeor (French hébergeur), from Frankish *heriberga ("lodging, inn"), from Proto-Germanic *harjaz ("army") + *bergô. Compare German Herberge, Italian albergo, Dutch herberg, English harbor. More at here, borrow.