herald means A surname.
herald is pronounced /ˈhɛɹəld/.
Why “herald” is a great word
An official messenger or proclaimer, especially one associated with medieval chivalry, or one who announces the approach of something. Its lineage traces from Old French *heraut* and Frankish *heriwald* (“army commander”), a compound of ‘army’ and ‘ruler’. Unlike a "harbinger"—which is primarily an inanimate omen—or a general "messenger," a herald implies a ceremonial, public, and often historic duty. It is the blast of a trumpet before a royal decree, the specific livery of a tabard announcing a tournament, or the first sharp chill in the air that proclaims, with absolute authority, the turning of the year—a figure whose very presence transforms mere occurrence into momentous event.
Etymology
From Latin heraldus, from Middle English herald, herauld, heraud, from Anglo-Norman heraud, from Old French heraut, hiraut (modern French héraut), from Frankish *heriwald, from Proto-Germanic *harjawaldaz, a compound consisting of Proto-Indo-European *ker- (“army”) + *h₂welh₁- (“to be strong”). Doublet of Harold and Harald; compare Walter, which has these elements reversed.
name
- A surname.
- A census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States.
noun
- A messenger, especially one bringing important news.“The herald blew his trumpet and shouted that the King was dead.”
- A harbinger, giving signs of things to come.“Daffodils are heralds of Spring.”
- An official whose speciality is heraldry, especially one between the ranks of pursuivant and king-of-arms“Rouge Dragon is a herald at the College of Arms.”
- A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix.
- A handbill consisting of an advertisement.“New this season will be a 20-sheet poster depicting 21 K-M elephants parading to local Chevrolet agencies. Deal calls for use of the 20-sheet on poster panels where the auto agency has space allotment. Smaller versions of the same art also will be used.
Circulation of Kelly-Miller heralds, which last season averaged between 5,000 and 6,000 copies per stand, will be in for one of the greatest boost”
verb
- To proclaim or announce an event.“Daffodils herald the Spring.”
- To greet something with excitement; to hail.“The film was heralded by critics.”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- harbinger 87% match — A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something. vs herald →
- foremessenger 86% match — One who brings a message in advance of something; a harbinger. vs herald →
- heraldry 84% match — The profession or art of devising, granting and blazoning coats of arms, tracing genealogies and ruling on questions of protocol or rank. vs herald →
- pursuivant 84% match — A functionary of lower rank than a herald, but discharging similar duties; an attendant of the heralds, e.g. in the College of Arms. vs herald →
- forerunner 83% match — A runner at the front or ahead. vs herald →
- vancourier 83% match — A precursor; one who comes before, or who leads a change. vs herald →
- armorbearer 82% match — One who carries armor for another. vs herald →
- tiding 82% match — News; new information. vs herald →