different between sequel vs prequel

English

Etymology

From Middle French séquelle , from Latin sequela, from sequi (“to follow”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?si?kw?l/
• Rhymes: -i?kw?l

Noun

sequel (plural sequels)

1. (dated) The events, collectively, which follow a previously mentioned event; the aftermath.
2. (narratology) A narrative that is written after another narrative set in the same universe, especially a narrative that is chronologically set after its predecessors, or (perhaps improper usage) any narrative that has a preceding narrative of its own.
3. (Scotland, historical) Thirlage.
4. (obsolete) A person's descendants.

Antonyms

• prequel

Coordinate terms

• midquel

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

Polish

Etymology

From English sequel, from Middle French séquelle, from Latin sequela, from sequi (“to follow”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?si.kw?l/

Noun

sequel m inan

1. (narratology) sequel

Declension

Further reading

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

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