prologue

noun

pro·​logue ˈprō-ˌlȯg 

-ˌläg

variants or less commonly prolog

1

: the preface or introduction to a literary work

2

a

: a speech often in verse addressed to the audience by an actor at the beginning of a play

b

: the actor speaking such a prologue

3

: an introductory or preceding event or development

Did you know?

In ancient Greek drama, the prologos (a word that means basically "speaking before") was the opening portion of the play, before the entry of the all-important chorus. It might be spoken by a single actor, maybe playing a god, who would "set the scene" for the audience. Playwrights today instead often provide the same kind of "scene-setting" information through dialogue near the play's beginning; in movies, it may appear (as in the "Star Wars" series) in the form of actual written text. In a nonfiction book, the lead-in is now usually called a preface or introduction; novels rarely provide any introduction at all. Still, prologue remains a useful word for nonliterary purposes. The saying "The past is prologue" tells us that, in real life, almost everything can be a prologue to what follows it.

Synonyms

• curtain-raiser
• overture
• preamble
• preliminary
• prelude
• warm-up

Examples of prologue in a Sentence

the prologue to his autobiography

unfortunately, the burglary, which he committed while still a teen, was but a prologue to a wasted life of crime

Recent Examples on the Web

If the past is prologue, the market has further upside, even with stocks trading near all-time highs and after an unusually strong first three quarters of the year. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2024

There’s no room for a prologue or an epilogue at that point. —Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024

In the prologue, Woodward remembers that Carl Bernstein ran into Donald Trump at a New York dinner party, back in 1989. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024

Sure enough, Cath resurfaces, first seen in the prologue by Jennifer Landon and later played by a deliciously against-type Glenn Close, whose red-haired Southern chutzpah suggests Reba McEntire with a larcenous streak. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prolog, from Anglo-French prologue, from Latin prologus preface to a play, from Greek prologos part of a Greek play preceding the entry of the chorus, from pro- before + legein to speak — more at pro-, legend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prologue

noun

pro·​logue ˈprō-ˌlȯg 

1

: an introduction to a book or play

2

: an act or event that comes before or introduces something