noun

an official employed to oversee state ceremonial, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings, and (historically) to make proclamations, carry official messages, and oversee tournaments.

messenger,courier,bearer of tidings,proclaimer,announcer,crier,town crier

verb

be a sign that (something) is about to happen.

the speech heralded a change in policy

signal,indicate,announce,point to,spell,presage,augur,portend,promise,prefigure,foreshadow,foretell,usher in,show in,pave the way for,open the way for,be a harbinger of,be a forerunner,be a precursor of,precede,come before,forebode,foretoken,betoken,harbinger