Har"bin*ger (?), n. [OE. herbergeour, OF. herbergeor one who provides lodging, fr. herbergier to provide lodging, F. h'eberger, OF. herberge lodging, inn, F. auberge; of German origin. See Harbor.]
1.
One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the English royal household who formerly preceded the court when traveling, to provide and prepare lodgings.
Fuller.
2.
A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger.
I knew by these harbingers who were coming.
Landor.
© Webster 1913.
Har"bin*ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harbingered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Harbingering.]
To usher in; to be a harbinger of.
"Thus did the star of religious freedom
harbinger the day."
Bancroft.
© Webster 1913.