Prolusion

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Prolusion \Pro*lu"sion\, n. [L. prolusio, fr. proludere to
     prelude; pro before + ludere to play: cf. F. prolusion, It.
     prolusione.]
     A trial before the principal performance; a prelude; hence,
     an introductory essay or exercise. "Domestic prolusions."
     --Thackeray.


     [1913 Webster]
  
           Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the
           worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted.   --Sir W.
                                                    Scott.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  prolusion
       n 1: a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
            [syn: {foreword}, {preface}]
       2: exercising in preparation for strenuous activity [syn: {warm-up},
           {tune-up}]