Etymograph

English

prelude

Prelude comes from Middle French prélude ‘singing to test a musical instrument’, from Latin praelūdō ‘to play beforehand (as practice)’, and ultimately from lūdō.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElūdō‘to play’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraelūdōas praelūdere‘to play beforehand (as practice)’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500preludium
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600prélude‘singing to test a musical instrument’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1821prelude

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElūdō‘to play’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraelūdōas praelūdere‘to play beforehand (as practice)’
  3. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500preludium
  4. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600prélude‘singing to test a musical instrument’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1821prelude

Earliest quotation: 1821, Walter Scott, Kenilworth; a Romance. […]: “The musicians preluded on their instruments.”

Linked words

through Latin lūdō ‘to play’

illusion, collusion, elusive, ludicrous, delusion, interlude, allude, collude, allusive, delude, 18 more

Today it means

noun An introductory or preliminary performance or event.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin lūdō / prelude

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