prolog

5.6

An introduction before a book or play that gives background

noun
/ˈproʊlɔɡ/

Literature

: prólogo

We will be revisiting this when we talk about the prologue to that work, which Arvantis thought would be the culmination of his life, of his career.

I can see why there's potential but I swear this whole book felt like a prologue so I'm assuming it gets better.

Examples

Well, it, it, it's a little handbook, a little pocketbook that is designed, as it says in the prologue to get you into studying stoicism.
Many readers skip the prolog, but it often provides essential background information.
I think I really like our prologue, which kind of sets the tone for everything, which is when you discover the girl.
And Robin Leach and this is the this is the prologue of our book.
I can see why there's potential but I swear this whole book felt like a prologue so I'm assuming it gets better.

BookswithEmilyFox
So if you look for example at the prologue to the Laws of Ornamo and Enlil gave kingship to Ornamu, but Ornamu is said to establish equity and the laws.
Prologs to Lorca's early plays, El maleficio de la mariposa and La zapatera prodigiosa, provide strong hints at his frustration over the dramatic results of these texts.

Academic text (2000)
The prolog of the novel introduces the main characters and their conflicts.
In the prolog, the author outlines the themes that will be explored throughout the story.

Synonyms

foreword

vsprolog

14 4.7

A short introduction at the start of a book that explains what it is about, written by someone else

is a general introductory section usually by the work's own creator

proem

vsprolog

Archaic

1 9.5

A short introduction at the start of a book, poem, or speech

is used for introductions especially to dramatic or book works

prolusion

vsprolog

Archaic

9.9

A short introduction before the main part of a book

is a broader opening that is not necessarily a short essay

prolegomenon

vsprolog

Literature

9.9

An introduction at the start of a book that explains its main ideas

is a more general opener rather than a detailed scholarly discussion

protasis

vsprolog

Literature

9.9

Beginning part of a play, story, or speech that sets the scene

is placed before the work as an opener rather than a scene within it

Surface Forms

prolog singular

prologs plural

prologues plural

prologue singular

Etymology

Prolog comes from the Greek parts pro- meaning 'before' and logos meaning 'word' or 'speech', the same root you see in dialogue. So a prolog is the short introduction that comes 'before' the main story to give background.