harbinger

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

har·bin·ger [harbinger harbingers harbingered harbingering] BrE [ˈhɑːbɪndʒə(r)] NAmE [ˈhɑːrbɪndʒər] noun ~ (of sth) (formal or literary)
a sign that shows that sth is going to happen soon, often sth bad

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old French herbergere, from herbergier ‘provide lodging for’, from herberge ‘lodging’, from Old Saxon heriberga ‘shelter for an army, lodging’ (from heri ‘army’ + a Germanic base meaning ‘fortified place’), related to ↑harbour. The term originally denoted a person who provided lodging, later one who went ahead to find lodgings for an army or for a nobleman and his party, hence, a herald (mid 16th cent.).

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  forerunner, predecessor, herald, precursor, announce, annunciate, foretell