Word of the Day

: July 14, 2010

prolegomenon

noun proh-lih-GAH-muh-nahn

What It Means

: prefatory remarks; specifically : a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work

prolegomenon in Context

The book is introduced by a lengthy prolegomenon, which is followed by 17 chapters of analysis.

Did You Know?

"Prolegomenon" is the singular and "prolegomena" is the plural of this scholarly word, though people sometimes mistakenly interpret "prolegomena" as the singular. The word, which comes from the Greek verb "prolegein" ("to say beforehand"), first appeared in print around 1652. It has appeared in the titles of noteworthy scholarly and philosophical works, but it has never been as common in general use as its older cousin "prologue." "Prologue" usually refers to an introduction to a literary work or to a speech addressed to the audience at the beginning of a play. "Prolegomenon" is most often used of the introduction to a work of scholarly analysis. Both words can also be used in a broader sense to refer generally to something that serves as an introduction.