Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
HARBINGER
harbinger, forerunner, predecessor, herald, precursor
(noun) something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
announce, annunciate, harbinger, foretell, herald
(verb) foreshadow or presage
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
harbinger (plural harbingers)
A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.
(obsolete) One who provides lodgings; especially, the officer of the English royal household who formerly preceded the court when travelling, to provide and prepare lodgings.
Synonyms
• forewarning, herald, omen, premonition, sign, signal, prophet
Verb
harbinger (third-person singular simple present harbingers, present participle harbingering, simple past and past participle harbingered)
(transitive) To announce or precede; to be a harbinger of.
Synonyms
• herald
Source: Wiktionary
Har"bin*ger, n. Etym: [OE. herbergeour, OF. herbergeor one who provides lodging, fr. herbergier to provide lodging, F. héberger, 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.
Har"bin*ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harbingered; p. pr. & vb. n. Harbingering.]
Definition: To usher in; to be a harbinger of. "Thus did the star of religious freedom harbinger the day." Bancroft.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
26 November 2024
TRANSPOSITION
(noun) (music) playing in a different key from the key intended; moving the pitch of a piece of music upwards or downwards
Coffee Trivia
