WordLens

town crier

1 of 1noun
/ˈtaʊn ˈkraɪər/
Forms:town criers
1

a person who makes public announcements or proclamations in a loud voice in a public space before modern forms of mass communication

A town crier is a person who was employed in the past to make public announcements in a town or village. The town crier would typically shout the news or proclamations loudly in a public space, such as a marketplace, so that people could hear important messages or events. They would often carry a bell to attract attention and ensure their message was heard. Town criers were commonly used before newspapers and other forms of mass communication became widely available, serving as a primary source of information for the community.

  • The town crier stood in the square, announcing the arrival of the royal visitors.
  • Everyone gathered around the town crier to hear the latest proclamation from the mayor.
  • As the town crier read out the news, people stopped their activities to listen closely.
  • The sound of the town crier's bell echoed through the streets, signaling an important message.
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