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A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger. I knew by these harbingers who were coming. Landor.

rescott. You see . . . of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goes. Chesterfield.

To come before as an earnest of something to follow; to introduce as a harbinger; to announce. These signs forerun the death or fall of kings. Shak.

A messenger sent before to give notice of the approach of others; a harbinger; a sign foreshowing something; a prognostic; as, the forerunner of a fever. Whither the forerunner in for us entered, even Jesus. Heb. vi. 20. My elder brothers, my forerunners, came. Dryden.

One who rides before; a harbinger. [Obs.] Shak.

A harbinger. [Obs.]

A forerunner; a a precursor; a harbinger. It was the lark, the herald of the morn. Shak.

A harbinger. [Obs.] Chaucer.

One who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment; a harbinger; a pursuivant.

One who, or that which, precedes an event, and indicates its approach; a forerunner; a harbinger. Evil thoughts are the invisible, airy precursors of all the storms and tempests of the soul. Buckminster.

Preceding as a precursor or harbinger; indicating something to follow; as, precursory symptoms of a fever.

An undertaker, or provider for funerals. [Obs.] The upholder, rueful harbinger of death. Gay.

To introduce or escort, as an usher, forerunner, or harbinger; to forerun; -- sometimes followed by in or forth; as, to usher in a stranger; to usher forth the guests; to usher a visitor into the room. The stars that usher evening rose. Milton. The Examiner was ushered into the world by a letter, setting forth the grea…

lowing a horn, or otherwise; hence, any person who marched at the head of a procession; a harbinger. Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king, Seems to prepare his way. Shak.