prolusion

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pro=lu=sion

CIDE DICTIONARY

prolusion, n. [L. prolusio, fr. proludere to prelude; pro before + ludere to play: cf. F. prolusion, It. prolusione.].

 A trial before the principal performance; a prelude; hence, an introductory essay or exercise.  Thackeray.  [1913 Webster]
"Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

prolusion, n. formal 1 a preliminary essay or article.
2 a first attempt.

Derivative

prolusory adj.

Etymology

L prolusio f. proludere prolus- practise beforehand (as PRO-(1), ludere lus- play)

ROGET THESAURUS

prolusion

Precursor

N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.