1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) A predecessor; an ancestor.

3. (n.) A piece of rag terminating the log line.

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