prologue

Where does the word "prologue" come from? It comes from Greek prologos, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Prologue’s story begins in Greek: prologos meant “an introductory speech.” Literally words before, from pro- (before) and logos (speech). It reached English by 1300s as prologue. Settled as the English word for an introductory section of a literary work. Today, prologue means a short introductory section preceding the main part of a literary work.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient prologos "an introductory speech", literally words before, from pro- (before) and logos (speech).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s prologue "an introductory section preceding a literary work", settled as the English word for an introductory section of a literary work.