The word "herald" is spelled with the letters h-e-r-a-l-d. The IPA phonetic transcription for "herald" is /ˈherəld/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short e sound, followed by the -r- consonant sound. The next syllable has an unstressed schwa vowel sound, which is followed by the -l- consonant sound. The final syllable is also unstressed and ends with the -d consonant sound. The word "herald" means a person or thing that announces or proclaims something.
A herald, in its noun form, refers to an official messenger or representative who carries and proclaims important news, announcements, or proclamations on behalf of a person, organization, or government. Traditionally, a herald acted as an intermediary, responsible for making public declarations and conveying vital information to the masses. Heralds were often present at royal courts and played a crucial role in ceremonial events.
Furthermore, herald can also refer to an individual who is recognized for initiating or announcing the arrival of a significant event or development. In this sense, a herald acts as a precursor or forerunner, promoting or indicating the coming of something of importance.
As a verb, to herald means to proclaim, announce, or introduce something on a grand scale, often with a sense of prestige or anticipation. It implies serving as a messenger or harbinger of certain news or events. By heralding, one brings attention, anticipation, or recognition to a particular subject or occurrence, typically with the intent of sparking interest or excitement.
In summary, a herald is an official messenger who proclaims and spreads critical information, whether as a noun or a verb. Whether it’s an individual recognized for heralding a significant event, or the act of announcing an occurrence, the concept of herald is built on the foundation of delivering notable news to the wider population.
• An officer who reads proclamations and regulates public ceremonies, &c.; one who registers all matters connected with genealogy and armorial bearings; a precursor or harbinger; one who formerly carried messages between princes.
• To proclaim; to introduce, as by a herald.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word herald comes from the Old French term herault, which ultimately derives from the Germanic language. It was influenced by several linguistic sources:
1. Old High German: The word hariwald is a combination of hari (army) and wald (rule), referring to someone who governs or commands an army.
2. Frankish: The Franks also used the term heriwald with a similar meaning.
3. Old English: The Old English word here (army) and wealdan (to rule) also contributed to the development of the term.
4. Latin: The Latin word araldus was used in medieval times to describe a person who announced important news or official proclamations.
Over time, these various linguistic influences merged, eventually giving rise to the modern English word herald.