Adjacent Words

Forerunner definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FORERUN'NER, n.
1. A messenger sent before to give notice of the approach of others; a harbinger.
My elder brothers, my forerunners came.
2. An ancestor or predecessor. Obs.
3. A prognostic; a sign foreshowing something to follow. Certain pains in the head, back and limbs are the forerunners of a fever.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a person who goes before or announces the coming of another [syn: precursor, forerunner]
2: something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone [syn: harbinger, forerunner, predecessor, herald, precursor]
3: anything that precedes something similar in time; "phrenology was an antecedent of modern neuroscience" [syn: antecedent, forerunner]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 13th century 1. one that precedes and indicates the approach of another: as a. a premonitory sign or symptom b. a skier who runs the course before the start of a race 2. predecessor, ancestor Synonyms: forerunner, precursor, harbinger, herald mean one that goes before or announces the coming of another. forerunner is applicable to anything that serves as a sign or presage <the blockade was the forerunner of war>. precursor applies to a person or thing paving the way for the success or accomplishment of another <18th century poets like Burns were precursors of the Romantics>. harbinger and herald both apply, chiefly figuratively, to one that proclaims or announces the coming or arrival of a notable event <their early victory was the harbinger of a winning season> <the herald of a new age in medicine>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a predecessor. 2 an advance messenger.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Forerunner Fore*run"ner, n. 1. A messenger sent before to give notice of the approach of others; a harbinger; a sign foreshowing something; a prognostic; as, the forerunner of a fever. Whither the forerunner in for us entered, even Jesus. --Heb. vi. 20. My elder brothers, my forerunners, came. --Dryden. 2. A predecessor; an ancestor. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. (Naut.) A piece of rag terminating the log line.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(forerunners) If you describe a person or thing as the forerunner of someone or something similar, you mean they existed before them and either influenced their development or were a sign of what was going to happen. ...a machine which, in some respects, was the forerunner of the modern helicopter... = precursor N-COUNT: oft N of n

Easton's Bible Dictionary

John the Baptist went before our Lord in this character (Mark 1:2, 3). Christ so called (Heb. 6:20) as entering before his people into the holy place as their head and guide.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

for-run'-er (prodromos):

This word occurs but once in the Bible: "Whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us" (Heb 6:20). The word signifies one who comes in advance to a place where the rest are to follow, or one who is sent on before as a scout to take observations. In this sense Christ is our forerunner for He has gone into heaven to prepare a place for His people into which He will eventually lead them. The idea of a forerunner is peculiar to the Christian dispensation. The Old Testament Levitical economy knew nothing of such. The high priest was a representative, not a forerunner: where he led, namely, into the Holy of Holies, the people could not follow. He was not the pioneer of the people; Christ is. Christ goes nowhere but where His people may follow. He is the file-leader (compare Heb 12:2, "the author .... of faith"). He goeth before His people to prepare the way for them, to open the gates of heaven by His atoning blood and priestly intercession. The believer is led into full fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.

See also JOHN THE BAPTIST; RUNNER.

William Evans

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Precursor, harbinger, herald, foregoer, avant-courier. 2. Prelude, prognostic, sign, omen, premonition, precursor.

Moby Thesaurus

Gabriel, Mahdi, advertisement, advertiser, ancestor, announcement, announcer, antecedent, augury, author, avant-garde, bell cow, bell mare, bellwether, born leader, buccinator, buccinator novi temporis, bushwhacker, charismatic leader, choirmaster, choragus, coach, conductor, coryphaeus, duce, envoy, evangel, evangelist, example, exemplar, explorer, file leader, forebear, forefather, foregoer, foreshadow, foreshadower, foretoken, forewarning, front runner, frontiersman, fugleman, groundbreaker, guide, harbinger, herald, herald angel, initiator, innovator, inspired leader, instructor, lead runner, leader, leader of men, mark, mentor, messenger, messiah, model, omen, originator, outrider, pacemaker, pacesetter, pathfinder, pattern, pioneer, point, portent, precedent, precentor, precursor, predecessor, premise, premonition, premonitor, preparationist, preparator, preparer, presage, presager, progenitor, prognostic, prototype, ringleader, scout, sign, standard-bearer, stormy petrel, symphonic conductor, symptom, teacher, token, torchbearer, trailblazer, trailbreaker, trainer, vanguard, vaunt-courier, voortrekker, warning