messenger, announcer, or signal
Herald
A herald is a messenger or announcer. As a verb, to herald means to announce something or signal that it is coming.
Why now
HERALD appeared in NYT Connections #1175 on August 29, 2026, with AT LAST, HYDRANT and TRITONE.
The connection
Why here
The category was “Starting with figures from Greek myth.” HERALD starts with HERA, the name of the Greek goddess.
Puzzle group: AT LAST · HERALD · HYDRANT · TRITONE
This is wordplay based on the opening letters. It is not a claim that the English word “herald” developed from the name Hera.
More context
Context
How Is “Herald” Used?
As a noun, a herald can be an official messenger or someone who announces news. It can also mean something that foreshadows what is coming, as in “a herald of spring.”
As a verb, it means to announce or signal the approach of something: a discovery might be said to herald a new era.
Keep exploring
Related Things
Evidence
Sources
- Herald — Merriam-Webster
Supports the noun and verb meanings of herald.
- NYT Connections hints and answers for August 29, 2026 — Forbes
Supports NYT Connections