messenger

American  

[mes-uhn-jer] / ˈmɛs ən dʒər /

noun

1. a person who carries a message or goes on an errand for another, especially as a matter of duty or business.

   Synonyms:

   courier , bearer

2. a person employed to convey official dispatches or to go on other official or special errands.

   a bank messenger.

3. Nautical.

   1. a rope or chain made into an endless belt to pull on an anchor cable or to drive machinery from some power source, as a capstan or winch.

   2. a light line by which a heavier line, as a hawser, can be pulled across a gap between a ship and a pier, a buoy, another ship, etc.

4. Oceanography.  a brass weight sent down a line to actuate a Nansen bottle or other oceanographic instrument.

5. Archaic.  a herald, forerunner, or harbinger.

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verb (used with object)

1. to send by messenger.

messenger British  

/ ˈmɛsɪndʒə /

noun

1. a person who takes messages from one person or group to another or others

2. a person who runs errands or is employed to run errands

3. a carrier of official dispatches; courier

4. nautical

   1. a light line used to haul in a heavy rope

   2. an endless belt of chain, rope, or cable, used on a powered winch to take off power

5. archaic  a herald

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Etymology

Origin of messenger

1175–1225; Middle English messager, messangere < Anglo-French; Old French messagier. See message, -er ²

Example Sentences

They then used the technique to stimulate mouse neurons and captured the moment when synaptic vesicles fused with the cell membrane and released their chemical messengers.

From Science Daily

The Pope himself has described the purpose of his visit to both Turkey and Lebanon as to be "a messenger of peace".

From BBC

"Our nation is inherently good at adapting to changing circumstances. We adapt -- there are other messengers, there are alternatives to switch to," she said.

From Barron's

But to some viewers, his questioning nature might make him seem like an imperfect messenger for stories about the ultimate symbols of faith.

From The Wall Street Journal

"If the messenger fails to comply with Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked," it said.

From Barron's

Related Words

• courier
• emissary
• go-between
• mediator
• prophet