Definition of: herald

(her′əld) noun
1. Formerly, an officer whose business it was to bear messages, challenges, etc., from a sovereign or from the commander of an army.
2. Brit. An official whose duty and profession it is to grant or record arms, trace and record genealogies, record the creation of peers, etc.
3. An official bearer of important tidings; hence, any bearer of news.
4. A precursor; harbinger.
—v.t. To announce publicly; usher in; proclaim. See synonyms under ANNOUNCE, PRECEDE. [<OF heralt,? <OHG heren call]
—he·ral·dic (hi·ral′dik) adjective Synonyms (noun): ambassador, courier, forerunner, harbinger, pioneer, precursor.