prelude
Definitions
An event or action serving as an introduction to something more important.
序幕，前奏（引出更重要之事的事件或行动）。
A short piece of music introducing a larger work or played as an opening.
前奏曲，序曲。
To serve as a prelude to; to introduce.
成为……的前奏；引出。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedprae-/pre- (before) + lude (play) = 'the playing that comes before.' This is the innocent branch of lud, where 'play' keeps its performance sense. Literally a piece of music opening a larger work, it broadened to any event leading up to and foreshadowing a bigger one — a prelude to war.
Root lud still carries 22 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.serve as a prelude作为……的前奏
- 2.prelude to war战争的序幕
- 3.musical prelude音乐前奏曲
- 4.brief prelude简短的序曲
Example Sentences
- 1.
The skirmishes proved to be a prelude to all-out war.
- 2.
The pianist opened with a quiet prelude.
- 3.
A few days of meetings preluded the official signing.
Easily Confused
prelude vs interlude vs postlude — all three are lud 'play' pieces, distinguished by the prefix's time slot: prelude comes BEFORE (pre-), interlude comes BETWEEN parts (inter-), postlude comes AFTER (post-). Only prelude has the figurative everyday sense of 'a prelude to' some bigger event.