Prologue

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹəʊlɒɡ/

Definitions

1. A section at the beginning of a literary work that introduces key themes and prepares the audience for the narrative ahead
2. The opening segment of a book, play, or other narrative that sets the stage for the main story
3. A preliminary section that appears before the main content to provide background or context

Etymology: The Greek "prólogos" was built from "pro" meaning "before" and "lógos" meaning "speech" or "word," so the literal sense is something said before the main event. In ancient Greek drama, the prologue was the opening speech delivered before the chorus entered the orchestra, setting the scene for the audience before the play proper began. The word passed into Latin as "prologus," and from there into Old French as "prologue," which entered Middle English in its spelling forms "prologue" and "prologe." The English word has kept the sense of a preliminary speech or introductory section, whether in a play, a novel, or a long piece of writing.

Synonyms: introduction, foreword

Antonyms: epilogue