forerunner

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person who goes before or announces the coming of another
  2. noun something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone
  3. noun anything that precedes something similar in time

Etymology

From Middle English forrenner, foreriner. Calque of Latin praecursor (“one who runs before, a forerunner”). Equivalent to fore- + runner and/or forerun + -er.

In classic literature

Synonyms

precursor

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