harbinger

noun

1. a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald.
2. anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign: Frost is a harbinger of winter.
3. a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc., to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations.

verb (used with object)

4. to act as harbinger to; herald the coming of.

noun

1. a person or thing that announces or indicates the approach of something; forerunner
2. obsolete a person sent in advance of a royal party or army to obtain lodgings for them

verb

3. (tr) to announce the approach or arrival of

n.

late 15c., herbengar “one sent ahead to arrange lodgings” (for a monarch, an army, etc.), alteration of Middle English herberger “provider of shelter, innkeeper” (late 12c.), from Old French herbergeor, from herbergier “provide lodging,” from herber “lodging, shelter,” from Frankish *heriberga “lodging, inn” (cf. Old Saxon, Old High German heriberga “army shelter,” from heri “army” + berga “shelter”); see harbor. Sense of “forerunner” is mid-16c. Intrusive -n- is 15c. (see messenger). As a verb, from 1640s (harbinge “to lodge” is late 15c.).