prologue
UK /ˈpɹəʊlɒɡ/ · US /ˈpɹoʊlɔɡ/ noun, verb
Forms prologues prologuing prologued prolog
- noun (literature, rhetoric) A speech or section used as an introduction, especially to a play or novel.
- noun One who delivers a prologue.
- noun (computing) A component of a computer program that prepares the computer to execute a routine.
- noun (cycling) An individual time trial before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage.
- noun (Eastern Orthodoxy) A liturgical book containing daily readings, including hagiography.
- verb (literature, rhetoric) To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.
Synonyms
Antonyms
epilogue afterword conclusion endsay endspeech postamble epilog
Etymology
From Middle English prologue, prologe, from Old French prologue, from Latin prologus, from Ancient Greek πρόλογος (prólogos). Equivalent to pro- + -logue.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The preface or introduction to a discourse, poem, or performance; as, the prologue of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales;" esp., a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance
- noun One who delivers a prologue. [R.] Shak.
- verb To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue. [R.] Shak.
Etymology [F., fr. L. prologus, fr. Gr. Logic.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “prologue”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details