PRELUDE

prelude

(noun) music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera

preliminary, overture, prelude

(noun) something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; “training is a necessary preliminary to employment”; “drinks were the overture to dinner”

prelude

(verb) play as a prelude

prelude

(verb) serve as a prelude or opening to

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

prelude (plural preludes)

An introductory or preliminary performance or event.

Synonym: preface

(music) A short, free-form piece of music, originally one serving as an introduction to a longer and more complex piece; later, starting with the Romantic period, generally a stand-alone piece. [from 1650s]

Synonyms: intrada, overture

(computing) A standard module or library of subroutines and functions to be imported, generally by default, into a program.

(figurative) A forerunner to anything.

Synonyms

• forestory

Verb

prelude (third-person singular simple present preludes, present participle preluding, simple past and past participle preluded)

To introduce something, as a prelude.

To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.

Source: Wiktionary


Pre"lude, n. Etym: [F. prélude (cf. It. preludio, LL. praeludium), fr. L. prae before + ludus play. See Prelude, v. t.]

Definition: An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture. The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Ænis Addison. The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact. Whewell.

Syn.

– Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.

Pre*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.] Etym: [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. préluder. See Ludicrous.]

Definition: To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude. The musicians preluded on their instruments. Sir. W. Scott. We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point. Jeffrey.

Pre*lude", v. t.

1. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.

2. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory. [Music] preluding some great tragedy. Longfellow

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

25 December 2024

UNAMBIGUOUS

(adjective) having or exhibiting a single clearly defined meaning; “As a horror, apartheid...is absolutely unambiguous”- Mario Vargas Llosa


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

coffee icon