prologue
Definitions
An introductory section of a literary or musical work.
An event or action that leads to another, more important event.
A speech, often in verse, addressed to the audience by one or more actors at the beginning of a play.
Examples
The author wrote a brief prologue to provide historical context for the events in the novel.
The tense standoff at the border served as a dark prologue to the full-scale war that followed.
Synonyms
introduction preface foreword preamble proem prelude opening