prelusive
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- prelusively adverb
- prelusorily adverb
Etymology
Origin of prelusive
Explanation
This paragraph is prelusive because it serves as an introduction to the meaning of this specific word. Things that are prelusive come before something else. An event, piece of writing, or piece of music is prelusive when it acts as a prelude to something more important or substantial that follows. Both words are derived from the Latin pre-, "before," and ludere, "to play." Introductory speeches before a main speaker takes the stage are prelusive. A small skirmish between two nations might be considered prelusive if it comes before a full-scale war. A rumbling from a mountain volcano might be prelusive to a violent eruption.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At Raritan and New Brunswick, in New Jersey, and elsewhere, there had been prelusive gleams of dawn.
From A History of American Christianity by Bacon, Leonard Woolsey
In Break, Break, Break, we hear a note prelusive to In Memoriam, much of which was already composed.
From Alfred Tennyson by Lang, Andrew
There was a fine note in Mr. Allen's earliest work; a prelusive note with the quality of the flute....
From James Lane Allen: A Sketch of his Life and Work by Unknown
Thomson seems to have been partial to these kind of adjectives, "effusive," "diffusive," "prelusive," &c.
From Notes and Queries, Number 179, April 2, 1853. A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Bell, George
During an entire generation they furnished the arena for the prelusive strife of that war.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 122, December, 1867 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
