Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play.
- noun An introduction or introductory chapter, as to a novel.
- noun An introductory act, event, or period.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To introduce with a formal prologue or preface; preface.
- noun The preface or introduction to a discourse or performance; specifically, a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance or play begins; hence, that which precedes or leads up to any act or event.
- noun The speaker of a prologue on the stage.
- noun Synonyms Preface, Preamble, etc. See
introduction .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The preface or introduction to a discourse, poem, or performance; esp., a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance.
- noun rare One who delivers a prologue.
- transitive verb rare To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
speech or section used as anintroduction , especially to aplay ornovel . - noun computing A component of a
computer program that prepares the computer to execute aroutine . - verb To
introduce with aformal preface , or prologue.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an introduction to a play
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word prologue.
Examples
-
Here is the result: Langbaine calls attention to the prologue in question as an _excellent prologue_, and
-
Lully, at the close of a bad prologue said, the word _fin du prologue_ was an _erratum_, it should have been _fi du prologue_!
Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 (of 3) Isaac Disraeli 1807
-
If your prologue is the length of a chapter, step back and ask yourself why.
Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Once Before a Time, Part 2 2007
-
If the prologue is a better hook, then you need to add it to the beginning right now.
ccfinlay: Cut another 1200 words tonight editing t ccfinlay 2006
-
This little bit commonly called the prologue is a gem of simplicity and compactness.
-
The prologue is written by the book's fictional editor, who had been Sarah's editor.
Postcards from Europa (Pt. 2) greygirlbeast 2009
-
Mr. FOLLETT: Right at the start, that prologue is about a 13-year-old boy who begins his working life going down the pit at the age of 13.
-
From Robert McKee, author of ‘Story’: A prologue is a single event or sequence of events that has no direct cause or connection with the story.
Prologues: How and When To Use Them | The Creative Penn 2010
-
I think the prologue is going okay now, though, and I should have it done before I make myself eat lunch, and no, that doesn't mean I will not make myself eat if Carter starts balking again.
mrissa: Yes, that does make me the nut in this nutshell mrissa 2010
-
I think the prologue is going okay now, though, and I should have it done before I make myself eat lunch, and no, that doesn't mean I will not make myself eat if Carter starts balking again.
Barnstorming on an Invisible Segway skzbrust 2010
carolinacc commented on the word prologue
“Que yo sepa, nadie ha formulado hasta el ahora una teoría del prólogo. La omisión no debe afligirnos, ya que todos sabemos de qué se trata. El prólogo, en la triste mayoría de los casos, linda con la oratoria de sobremesa o con los panegíricos fúnebres y abunda en hipérboles irresponsables que la lectura incrédula acepta como convenciones del género. ... El prólogo, cuando son propicios los astros, no es una forma subalterna del brindis; es una especie lateral de la crítica�?. Jorge Luis Borges en PRÓLOGOS CON UN PRÓLOGO DE PRÓLOGOS.
September 28, 2008
Prolagus commented on the word prologue
Non ho idea di ciò che carolinacc ha scritto, ma mi diverte il fatto che questa pagina possa diventare una raccolta di commenti in tutte le lingue possibili; se qualcuno capisce questo messaggio, stia al gioco!
September 28, 2008
palooka commented on the word prologue
I think Prolagus is describing a play involving a fat (il fatto) raccoon (una raccolta) that speaks all languages (in tutte le lingue), and is searching desperately to understand the message (questo messagio) sent to it by a person named qualcuno.
September 28, 2008
dontcry commented on the word prologue
Um... it's a play that a review has been given of...maybe the comments have different meanings in different languages when the presenter is... something about seafood...?
September 28, 2008
bilby commented on the word prologue
Sepertinya mereka keliru pengertiannya, sekurang-kurangnya dalam mendefinisikan 'pendahuluan' ataupun menjelaskan konsepnya secara terang bagi kami, pembaca-pembaca yang budiman. Namun koleksi bahasa terus berkembang, suatu hal yang lumayan menyenangkan.
September 28, 2008
dontcry commented on the word prologue
I was just going to say that...
September 28, 2008
dontcry commented on the word prologue
...with knobs.
September 28, 2008
palooka commented on the word prologue
Well, bilby is writing about a sacred serpent myth popular on the Indonesian island of sekurang-kurangnya. The serpent is called a pembaca-pembaca and anyone who looks into its eyes will turn into a menyenangkan (half lizard, half raccoon which is the connection to Pro's story).
I think berkembang is misspelled however.
September 28, 2008
Prolagus commented on the word prologue
It's spelled Chitty bang bang, chitty chitty bang bang in US English.
September 28, 2008
frindley commented on the word prologue
ROSALIND. It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue; but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord the prologue.
(As You Like It)
October 1, 2008