English → Latin
“prelude” in Latin
praecentiōprelude (singing or playing before a sacrifice, battle etc)prooemiuma preface, introduction, prelude; a beginningprōlūsĭoa preludepraelūsiōa preludecitharoedussinger who accompanies himself on the citharapraecinōto sing or play before; to predict, foretellmodulusa small measure or interval; a module; a water meter
The English word prelude itself goes back to Latin lūdō, through preludium.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
prelude s.
praecentio (in music, of a leader, who gives the time): prooemium (a beginning, with a musical instrument; citharoedi, Cic., De Or., 2, 80, 325): prolusio or praelusio (the beginning of a battle, or, figuratively, of anything which may be compared to it). To be a prelude to anything (figuratively), alicui rei antecedere.
prelude v.
PROP., praeire ac praemonstrare (otherwise praeministrare) modulos (Gell., 1, 19, 11); praecinere (of the player, or of the instrument).
Figuratively, alicui rei antecedere.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for prelude?
- The usual Latin words for “prelude” are praecentiō, prooemium, prōlūsĭo; also praelūsiō, citharoedus, praecinō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.