The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Harbinger \Har"bin*ger\ (h[add]r"b[i^]n*j[~e]r), n. [OE.
   herbergeour, OF. herbergeor one who provides lodging, fr.
   herbergier to provide lodging, F. h['e]berger, 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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A forerunner; a precursor; a messenger.
      [1913 Webster]

            I knew by these harbingers who were coming.
                                                  --Landor.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Harbinger \Har"bin*ger\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harbingered
   (h[add]r"b[i^]n*j[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Harbingering.]
   To usher in; to be a harbinger of. "Thus did the star of
   religious freedom harbinger the day." --Bancroft.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

harbinger
    n 1: something that precedes and indicates the approach of
         something or someone [syn: harbinger, forerunner,
         predecessor, herald, precursor]
    v 1: foreshadow or presage [syn: announce, annunciate,
         harbinger, foretell, herald]