proem
1
9.5
- noun
- /ˈproʊɪm/
- Archaic
:
proemio
- The author wrote a captivating proem that set the tone for her novel.
Examples
-
"In the face of this unending proem, The Human Quest urges its viewers to search for "moral resources that will help us confront the threat to human survival."
Academic text (1998) -
In particular, it was an opportunity for poetry to "lend a myth to God," as Crane proposes in the proem to The Bridge.
Academic text (1997) -
In the proem of his speech, he outlined the main goals of the project.
-
She included a thoughtful proem at the beginning of her poetry collection.
Synonyms
81
2.1
The first part of a book, speech, or essay that explains the topic
21
6.0
An opening part of a play that explains the story or background
14
4.7
A short introduction at the start of a book that explains what it is about, written by someone else
An introduction before a book or play that gives background
An introduction at the start of a book that explains its main ideas
A short introduction before the main part of a book
A short introduction before a story that gives the main lesson
Beginning part of a play, story, or speech that sets the scene
The opening words of a text that are used as its title
Surface Forms
Etymology
Proem comes from parts meaning pro- 'before' and the same root as poem, so a proem is a short introduction that comes before a poem, book, or speech.