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Forerunner vs Herald - What's the difference?

forerunner | herald |

As nouns the difference between forerunner and herald

is that forerunner is a runner at the front or ahead while herald is a messenger, especially one bringing important news.

As a verb herald is

to proclaim or announce an event.

forerunner

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • a runner at the front or ahead
  • (sport) by extension, a non-competitor who leads out the competitors on to the circuit, or who runs/rides the course prior to competitor trials, usually testing or checking the way.
  • a precursor or harbinger, a warning ahead
  • * '>citation
  • a forebear, an ancestor, a predecessor
  • (philately) a postage stamp used in the time before a region or area issues stamps of its own
  • something that introduces a part of the properties offered by some later thing.
  • Bakelite is a forerunner of today's plastics.

    herald

    English

    Noun

    (en 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.
  • (heraldry) 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.
  • (entomology) A moth of the species Scoliopteryx libatrix .
  • Synonyms

    * (messenger) messenger * (harbinger) harbinger * (official whose speciality is heraldry) pursuivant

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To proclaim or announce an event.
  • Daffodils herald the Spring.