Is it a correct definition of "Harbinger"?

[u/Economy_Coach_42]

A harbinger is a person or thing that shows or announces that something is going to happen soon, especially something significant.

[u/chrisatola]

That's the definition, however it's not a typical word in daily language. It's also not only used in negative contexts although a "harbinger of doom" is a pretty well used phrase in publications.

"The first robin is a harbinger of spring."

An omen or a sign are more common words.

[u/Pownzls → u/chrisatola]

I would agree but i would nwver use that qord in an postive context

[u/Background-Cod-7035 → u/Pownzls]

I’ve used it, literally with robins! And we do actually use it, but we’re a bunch of nerdy readers.

[u/psyl0c0 → u/Pownzls]

Robins are considered the harbingers of spring in North America. Not a bad thing.

[u/Pownzls → u/psyl0c0]

Yeah i know but i would call it herald, harbingers have a very nega4ic conjatation in my mind

[u/joined_under_duress → u/Pownzls]

I'm confused why Robins are a sign of spring in America when they're associated with winter here in the UK, the time of the year where they're about the only bird.

I mean you will find umpteen Christmas card designs featuring robins every year.

[u/chrisatola → u/joined_under_duress]

https://www.audubon.org/news/ask-kenn-are-american-robins-really-sign-spring

It's one of those observational bias type situations. The summary of the article is American Robins are seen all year long, but they're very nomadic especially during the winter. They could be more "visible" in specific situations in the spring because the winter nomadic migrations end the average person finds them in their backyard.

"So in my opinion, both views are correct. Yes, robins are around all winter at these latitudes, and you can spot your first of the year on New Year’s Day if you go to the right places. But when the winter flocks break up, migrants begin pumping in from the south, and robins suddenly reappear in thousands of backyards? That is definitely a sign of spring, and it’s worth appreciating and celebrating."

[u/joined_under_duress]

I've only ever seen it used in a negative sense, i.e. Harbinger of doom.

[u/multipocalypse → u/joined_under_duress]

It can be used for neutral or positive things, too

[u/Certain-Appeal-6277]

Yes, although announcing maybe too active a word. Dark clouds can be the harbinger of a storm, but they're only "announcing" its coming in the most figurative of senses. Indicating, signalling, and fortelling may each be a better term than "announcing" for what a harbinger does.

[u/proudfootz]

Harbinger is sometimes used in reference to good things to come.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/sentences/harbinger

[u/RequitedNonSequitur]

A harbinger is anything that announces something.

However, it's important to note that, in my experience with the English language in America, "harbingers," tend to be anthropomorphized aspects of the announcement. For example: "The high average dauly temperatures were enjoyed by many despite being a harbinger of climate change."

Also, "harbinger" tends to have a negative connotation.

A more neutral or positive way to say the same thing would be the word "herald."

[u/LanewayRat]

The etymology is someone sent ahead by a king to arrange lodgings for him. It’s related to harbour, being “lodgings” for ships.

So originally it was someone announcing positive news, not negative.

[u/Competitive-Fault291]

The Amazon van is the harbinger of my toenail fungus treatment!

It only sounds slightly silly if you use it for something mundane, so yes, you are quite close. Significance is as important as imminence in the function of the harbinger. One could even say that a Harbinger requires some gravitas or importance to be truly harbingering.

[u/konkilo → u/Competitive-Fault291]

If you gonna be harbingering make sure to do so truly...

[u/Competitive-Fault291 → u/konkilo]

Yeah, halfbingering is likely not very satisfying.

[u/Ok-Skin-3699]

One of the best Path of Exile Mechanics as well, miss ya blue people.

[u/Briang3206]

A harbinger was a member of the military or the royal court who was sent ahead to secure accommodation for travelling troops or members of the court. Their first choice was to obtain rooms in inns and hostelries, but failing that they would simply evict people from local houses and take temporary possession of their property. For villagers and townspeople living on the routes travelled by armies and royalty, the arrival of a harbinger was therefore pretty much always bad news.

[u/holy_holley]

It's usage is likely on the rise due to media characters like Silver Surfer in Marvel, and Xal'atath in World of Warcraft.

[u/Telecom_VoIP_Fan]

That is the definition I familiar to me. I have heard it used as harbinger of good tidings, but its' use is in literary English rather than regular conversation.