different between prefiguration vs harbinger

English

Alternative forms

• præfiguration (archaic)

Etymology

From Late Latin praefigurationem, nominative form of praefiguratio.

Noun

prefiguration (countable and uncountable, plural prefigurations)

1. A vague representation or suggestion of something before it has happened or been accomplished.
   • 1628, Joseph Hall, Christian Liberty Laid Forth

     Those ceremonies were prefigurations of Christ to come : these traditions are defigurations and deformations of Christ exhibited

2. Something that prefigures.

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “prefiguration”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

Originally, a person that is sent in advance to arrange lodgings. From Middle English herbergeour, from Old French herbergeor (French hébergeur), from Frankish *heriberga (“lodging, inn”, literally “army shelter”), from Proto-Germanic *harjaz (“army”) + *bergô (“protection”). Compare German Herberge, Italian albergo, Dutch herberg, English harbor. More at here, borrow.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h??b?nd??/
• (US) enPR: här?b?nj?r, IPA^(key): /?h??b?nd???/

Noun

harbinger (plural harbingers)

1. (usually in the plural) A person or thing that foreshadows or foretells the coming of someone or something.

   Synonyms: forewarning, herald, omen, premonition, sign, signal, prophet

   • 1828, Walter Savage Landor, Imaginary Conversations, Lord Brooke and Sir Philip Sidney

     I knew by these harbingers who were coming.
2. (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.
   • 1644, Thomas Fuller, Truth Maintained (a sermon)

     outward decency […] is the Harbinger to provide the lodging for inward holinesse

Translations

Verb

harbinger (third-person singular simple present harbingers, present participle harbingering, simple past and past participle harbingered)

1. (transitive) To announce or precede; to be a harbinger of.

   Synonym: herald

Translations

See also

• bellwether

Further reading

• Harbinger in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
• harbinger in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.