forerunner
UK: ˈfɔːrʌnə | US: ˈfɔːrʌnər
n. a person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a precursor
n. a sign or warning of something to come
n. (historical) a scout or messenger sent ahead of a group
The word "forerunner" combines "fore," meaning "before" (from Old English fore), and "runner," derived from Old English rinnan ("to run"). The term originally referred to a scout or messenger sent ahead of a group, later expanding to mean any precursor or early indicator. The logic is straightforward: a "forerunner" literally "runs before" others, either physically or metaphorically.
The invention of the telegraph was a forerunner of modern communication systems.
Dark clouds are often a forerunner of a storm.
In medieval times, a forerunner would announce the arrival of the king.
The artist's early sketches were a forerunner to her famous paintings.
Scientists study genetic mutations as potential forerunners of disease.