Vocabulary in context
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Herald
To announce or publicize; to foretell; to proclaim
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Imagine This
Ronald is a king and he is announcing to his country that he is getting white hair, which means he is getting old, so someone must take over his position as king soon. After World War II, U.S. President Truman announced and honored the names of the heroes in the Allied Forces who had fought bravely for victory.
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Sounds Like
Hair_old; Hero
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Looks Like
Looks like hero with an extra ald at the end
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Remember This
Herald originally referred to a royal messenger. In modern usage, it also means a sign or indicator of what is to come (as in 'a herald of spring').
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Other Forms
heraldnoun
heraldsnoun
heraldedverb
heraldingverb
heraldsverb
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Connect With
announcer, proclaim, proclaimer, harbinger, forerunner, precursor
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Note
As a verb, herald means to announce or proclaim; as a noun, it refers to a person who proclaims or to something that signals a future event. Do not confuse with heraldry (the study of coats of arms), though the words share historical roots.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The town crier will herald the king's arrival.
- A red flag can herald the start of a storm.
Synonyms
proclaimerannouncerharbingerforerunnerprecursor
Antonyms
concealobscurewithhold
Etymology
From Old French heraut (crier, messenger), from Germanic roots related to 'army' (here) and 'ruler' (wald), expressing the role of a messenger who proclaims.
Mnemonic
Hear A Loud: remember that a herald is someone who proclaims something loudly.
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Ascertain
verbTo find out or determine something with certainty through careful investigation or analysis.
Discipline
noun1) Training or exercise intended to produce obedience, self-control, and orderly behavior; 2) a branch or field of study; 3) self-control or restraint in thoughts and actions.
Truncate
verbTo shorten something by cutting off a part of it.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Precursor
nounA person or thing that comes before something else and signals or leads to that later development; a forerunner.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
Abscond
verbTo depart secretly or flee, especially to avoid detection or arrest.
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