herald English · revision 10786

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=xno heraud|origins=frk *hariwald}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈher.əld/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|xno|heraud]], [[fro|heraut]], [[m|fro|hiraut]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[frk|*hariwald|t=commander of an army]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) a compound of words represented in [[goh|heri|t=army]] (see [[harry]]) and [[m|goh|waltan|t=to rule]] (see [[wield]]);^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) compare the Germanic names Chariovalda in Tacitus and [[non|Haraldr]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An officer expert in arms, armorial bearings and tournaments: probably about 1300, in Guy of Warwick;^(Barnhart 1988) the surname Haroud is from 1204.^(Barnhart 1988) A messenger or envoy, late 13th century in Anglo-Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline finds the sense development hard to explain, unless from the chief officer of a tournament, who introduced the knights and ruled on disputes.^(Etymonline) One who proclaims another's message, a messenger, is from 1377,^(OED 1989) and a forerunner or harbinger from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) An officer of the College of Arms (founded 1483), expert in heraldry, is a herald from 1588 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The verb, to sound the praises of, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Heraldry'' is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1204 – Haroud (surname).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – an officer of arms.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1377 – a messenger.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – to herald (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – a forerunner.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who brings or announces important news; a [[messenger]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sign of something to come; a [[harbinger]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An official expert in [[heraldry]] and coats of arms.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To announce or be a sign of: ''to herald a new age''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[unheralded]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[heraldic]]

+ * [[heraldry]]

+ * [[harry]]

+ * [[wield]]

+ * [[Harold]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}