bellwether

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: bell=weth=er

CIDE DICTIONARY

bellwether, n. 

•  A wether, or sheep, which leads the flock, with a bell on his neck.  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence: A leader.  Swift.  [1913 Webster]

THESAURUS

bellwether

Mahdi, ancestor, announcer, antecedent, avant-garde, bell cow, bell mare, born leader, buccinator, bushwhacker, charismatic leader, choirmaster, choragus, conductor, coryphaeus, doyen, duce, ewe, ewe lamb, explorer, file leader, forebear, foregoer, forerunner, front runner, frontiersman, fugleman, groundbreaker, guide, harbinger, herald, innovator, inspired leader, jumbuck, lamb, lambkin, lead, lead runner, leader, leader of men, messenger, messiah, mutton, pacemaker, pacesetter, pathfinder, pilot, pioneer, point, precedent, precentor, precursor, predecessor, ram, ringleader, scout, sheep, standard-bearer, stormy petrel, symphonic conductor, teg, torchbearer, trailblazer, trailbreaker, tup, vanguard, vaunt-courier, voortrekker, wether, yeanling

ROGET THESAURUS

bellwether

Precursor

N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.

Director

N director, manager, governor, rector, comptroller, superintendent, supervisor, straw boss, intendant, overseer, overlooker, supercargo, husband, inspector, visitor, ranger, surveyor, aedile, moderator, monitor, taskmaster, master, leader, ringleader, demagogue, corypheus, conductor, fugleman, precentor, bellwether, agitator, caporal, choregus, collector, file leader, flugelman, linkboy, guiding star, adviser, guide, pilot, helmsman, steersman, steermate, wire-puller, driver, whip, Jehu, charioteer, coachman, carman, cabman, postilion, vetturino, muleteer, arriero, teamster, whipper in, head, head man, head center, boss, principal, president, speaker, chair, chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, captain, superior, mayor, vice president, prime minister, premier, vizier, grand vizier, eparch, officer, functionary, minister, official, red-tapist, bureaucrat, man in office, Jack in office, office bearer, person in authority, statesman, strategist, legislator, lawgiver, politician, statist, statemonger, Minos, Draco, arbiter, boss, political dictator, board, secretary, secretary of state, Reis Effendi, vicar, steward, factor, agent, bailiff, middleman, foreman, clerk of works, landreeve, factotum, major-domo, seneschal, housekeeper, shepherd, croupier, proctor, procurator, ex officio.