Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A literary, dramatic, or cinematic work whose narrative takes place before that of a preexisting work.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun narratology In a series of works, an installment that is set chronologically before its predecessor, especially the original narrative or (perhaps improper usage) any narrative work with at least one sequel.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[pre– + (se)quel.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Patterned after sequel using pre- ("before").

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Examples

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