prologue

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an opening speech or section that introduces a play, novel, or other work

   The prologue describes the voyage that takes place before the main story begins.

2. 2
   noun

   figurative: an event or stage that leads into a more important sequence of events

   The small protest proved to be the prologue to a nationwide campaign.

3. 3
   noun

   computing: instructions at the start of a routine that prepare it to run

   The compiler inserts a prologue that saves the registers needed by the function.

4. 4
   noun

   cycling: a short individual time trial held before the main stages of a race

   The fastest rider in the prologue wore the leader's jersey the following day.

5. 5
   noun

   the person who delivers the introductory speech of a play

   The actor playing the prologue stepped forward to address the audience.

Simplified etymology

Prologue entered English in the Middle Ages and ultimately derives from Greek logos, meaning “word” or “reason.” Its sense is “words said before.”

From Middle English prologue, prologe, from Old French prologue, from Latin prologus, from Ancient Greek πρόλογος (prólogos). Equivalent to pro- + -logue.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary