Prelude

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: prel=ude

CIDE DICTIONARY

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

 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.  [1913 Webster]
"The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Ænis"  [1913 Webster]
"The cause is more than the prelude, the effect is more than the sequel, of the fact."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Preface; introduction; preliminary; preamble; forerunner; harbinger; precursor.

Prelude, v. i. [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. préluder. See Ludicrous.].

 To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.  [1913 Webster]
"The musicians preluded on their instruments."  [1913 Webster]
"We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point."  [1913 Webster]

Prelude, v. t. 

•  To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.  [1913 Webster]
•  To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.  [1913 Webster]

  "[Music] preluding some great tragedy."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Prelude, n. & v.
--n. (often foll. by to)
1 an action, event, or situation serving as an introduction.
2 the introductory part of a poem etc.
3 a an introductory piece of music, often preceding a fugue or forming the first piece of a suite or beginning an act of an opera. b a short piece of music of a similar type, esp. for the piano.
--v.tr.
1 serve as a prelude to.
2 introduce with a prelude.

Derivative

preludial adj.

Etymology

F pr{eacute}lude or med.L praeludium f. L praeludere praelus- (as PRAE-, ludere play)

THESAURUS

Prelude

Vorspiel, antecedence, antecedency, anteposition, anteriority, avant-propos, breakthrough, concert overture, curtain raiser, descant, dominion, dramatic overture, exordium, foreword, front matter, front position, frontispiece, innovation, introduce, introduction, leap, operatic overture, overture, postulate, preamble, precedence, precedency, preceding, precession, precursor, preface, preference, prefix, prefixation, prefixture, preliminary, premise, presupposition, priority, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologize, prologue, protasis, prothesis, superiority, the lead, top priority, urgency, vamp, verse, voluntary

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Prelude

Precedence

VB precede, come before, come first, head, lead, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, be in the vanguard, introduce, usher in, have the pas, set the fashion, open the ball, take precedence, have precedence, have the start, place before, prefix, premise, prelude, preface.

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.