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   prelude

   /ˈprɛljuːd/

   noun

   • 1. an action or event serving as an introduction to something more important: "a ceasefire had been agreed as a prelude to full peace negotiations" Similar preliminaryovertureopeningpreparationintroductionstartbeginningcurtain-raiserlead-inprecursorforerunnerharbingerheraldinformal:openerformal:commencementrare:prolusion
   • 2. an introductory piece of music, most commonly an orchestral opening to an act of an opera, the first movement of a suite, or a piece preceding a fugue. Similar overtureintroductory movementintroductionopeningvoluntaryrare:verset
   • ▪ a short piece of music of a style similar to a prelude, especially for the piano.
   • ▪ the introductory part of a poem or other literary work. Similar introductionprefaceprologueforewordpreambleinformal:introrare:proemexordiumprolegomenonprodromeOpposite conclusionpostscript

   verb

   • 1. serve as a prelude or introduction to: "the bombardment preluded an all-out final attack"

   Word Origin mid 16th century: from French prélude, from medieval Latin praeludium, from Latin praeludere ‘play beforehand’, from prae ‘before’ + ludere ‘to play’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. preludial adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • L

     1

   • U

     1

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

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