Plural of harbinger; people, signs, or events that announce or signal the arrival of something, often something important or momentous.
From Old French 'herbergier,' originally someone who arranged lodging. Over time, the meaning shifted to 'one who goes before,' referring to medieval servants sent ahead to prepare lodging. Eventually it came to mean any sign or signal of future events.
The word 'harbinger' beautifully shows semantic evolution—it started as a practical job description (the person who books your hotel) and transformed into a poetic concept for omens and signs. It's why we talk about robins as harbingers of spring, even though we never hire robins to arrange accommodations!
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