prologue

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Literature

pro·logue /ˈprəʊlɒɡ $ ˈproʊlɒːɡ, -lɑːɡ/ noun [countable usually singular]  1. ALthe introduction to a play, a long poem etc 〔戏剧等的〕序幕，开场白；〔长诗等的〕序诗，序 → epilogue2  literaryBEGINNING an act or event that leads to a more important event 〔重大事件的〕开端，序幕prologue to a prologue to the final abandonment of trams in London 伦敦最终弃用有轨电车的开端

Examples from the Corpus

prologue• It is an eerie experience but only a prologue.• These quick distinctions are prologue to a crucial point.• The trials of the past are prologue to success.• The play begins with a brief prologue.• The brief prologue sets the scene for what is to follow.• Euripidean drama commonly has an expository prologue whose function is to outline the forthcoming action of the play.• In his prologue to 'Faust', Goethe said some very interesting things about art.• This casts doubt on the suggestion that Asclepiodatus was also responsible for the shorter prologue of Lex Salica.• Finally, in section 6 the association is made explicit, rounding out and completing the prologue to the poem.• The past is the prologue to the future.• the prologue to Shakespeare's Henry VOrigin prologue (1300-1400) Old French Latin prologus “first part of a play”, from Greek, from pro- “before” + legein “to speak”

pro·logue nounChineseSyllable  

Corpus play, a to a long the introduction

prologue
pro‧logue /ˈprəʊlɒɡ $ ˈproʊlɒːɡ, -lɑːɡ/ noun [countable usually singular]1. the introduction to a play, a long poem etc ⇨ epilogue
2. literary an act or event that leads to a more important event
    prologue to
    a prologue to the final abandonment of trams in London
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ introduction a written or spoken statement at the beginning of a book, speech, or meeting, giving a general idea of what it is about: After a brief introduction by the chairman, the meeting began. | The author outlines his methods of research in the introduction.
   ▪ preface a short piece of writing at the beginning of a book that says what the book is about or the reason for writing it: In the preface, he explains his motives for returning to the subject of Middle Eastern politics.
   ▪ foreword a short introduction to a book or report, usually written by someone who is not the author: Greene wrote the foreword to Suzmann’s book.
   ▪ prologue an introduction to a piece of writing, especially a play or a long poem: the prologue to Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ | The poem begins with a brief prologue.
   ▪ preamble a statement at the beginning of something, especially an official document, which explains what it is about: the Preamble to the US Constitution

pro·logueBrE /ˈprəʊlɒɡ/ 🔊NAmE /ˈproʊlɔːɡ/ 🔊, /ˈproʊlɑːɡ/ 🔊 nouna speech, etc. at the beginning of a play, book, or film/movie that introduces it 序言；序幕；开场白  ➡  compare epilogue