different between prequel vs prologue

English

Etymology

Patterned after sequel using pre- (“before”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?i?kw?l/

Noun

prequel (plural prequels)

1. (narratology) In a series of works, an installment that is set chronologically before its predecessor, especially the original narrative or (perhaps improper usage) any narrative work with at least one sequel.
   • 1980, Patrick Robertson, Movie Facts and Feats: A Guinness Record Book, New York: Sterling Publishing, p. 43:

     'Prequels' are sequels that relate the story that preceded the original film.

   • 2008, 26 February, Andrew Pierce, "JRR Tolkien's estate to sue Lord of the Rings filmmakers New Line Cinema over profits, in The Daily Telegraph

     They are also threatening to block the production of the long-awaited prequel, The Hobbit, which may now be cancelled.

Usage notes

Most often used, not as a direct antonym of sequel, to refer to earlier works in a series, but to refer to works that are chronologically before but are created and released after; an archetypal example is the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Antonyms

• sequel

Coordinate terms

• midquel

Related terms

• midquel
• sequel

Translations

See also

• interquel
• threequel

Polish

Etymology

From English prequel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pr?i.kw?l/

Noun

prequel m inan

1. (narratology) prequel

Declension

Further reading

• prequel in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• prequel in Polish dictionaries at PWN

English

Alternative forms

• prolog

Etymology

From Middle English prologue, prologe, from Old French prologue, from Latin prologus, from Ancient Greek ???????? (prólogos).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p???l??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?p?o?l??/, /?p?o?l??/

Noun

prologue (plural prologues)

1. A speech or section used as an introduction, especially to a play or novel.

   Synonyms: forespeech; see also Thesaurus:foreword

   Antonyms: epilogue; see also Thesaurus:afterword
2. One who delivers a prologue.
   • 1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida:

     And hither am I come, / A Prologue armed, but not in confidence / Of author's pen or actor's voice,

3. (computing) A component of a computer program that prepares the computer to execute a routine.
4. (cycling) An individual time trial before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage.

Derived terms

• prologuize

Translations

Verb

prologue (third-person singular simple present prologues, present participle prologuing, simple past and past participle prologued)

1. To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “prologue”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

French

Pronunciation

Noun

prologue m (plural prologues)

1. prologue

Spanish

Verb

prologue

1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of prologar.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of prologar.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of prologar.
4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of prologar.