| 释义 |
▪ I. prologue, n.|ˈprɒlɒg, ˈprəʊlɒg|
Forms: 4–6 prolog, -loug, -louge, 6 -logge, 5– prologue. β. 4–6 prologe.
[ME. prolog, a. F. prologue (c 1215 in Godef. Compl.), ad. L. prolog-us, a. Gr. πρόλογος the prologue of a play, also its speaker, f. πρό, pro-2 + λόγος speech. The β-form (proˈloge in Chaucer and Gower) represents the OF. by-form proˈloge (12th c. in Littré).]
1. The preface or introduction to a discourse or performance; a preliminary discourse, proem, preface, preamble; esp. a discourse or poem spoken as the introduction to a dramatic performance.
a1300Cursor M. 265 Now o þis proloug [v. rr. prolouge, prolog, prologe] wil we blin In crist nam our bok be-gin. c1374Chaucer Troylus iv. 865 (893) This shorte and pleyne þeffect of my message..For ȝe..May to no longe prologe as now entende. 1382Wyclif Matt. Prol., Jerom in his twei prologis on Matheu seith pleynli thus. 1390Gower Conf. I. 5 Whan the prologe is so despended This bok schal after⁓ward ben ended. 1426Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 133 Here endith the prolog, and begynneth the translacioun. 1484Caxton Fables of æsop i, Here begyneth the preface or prologue of the fyrste book. 1535Joye Apol. Tindale (Arb.) 47 As he bosteth himself..in his prologe. 1573in Feuillerat Revels Q. Eliz. (1908) 200 Bayes for the prologges & properties. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 913/2 The hauing and reading of the new testament in English translated by Tindall,..forbidden..that therein were prologs and prefaces sounding to heresie. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 305 Their shallow showes, and Prologue vildely pen'd. a1679Hobbes Rhet. iii. xiii. (1681) 120 In other kinds it [the Proem] resembles the Prologue of a Play. 1728Pope Dunc. i. 277 How Prologues into Prefaces decay, And these to Notes are fritter'd quite away. 1779Sheridan Critic i. i, I'll undertake to read you the whole from beginning to end, with the Prologue and Epilogue. 1861Craik Hist. Eng. Lit. I. 293 The general Prologue [of the Canterbury Tales] is a gallery of pictures almost unmatched for their air of life and truthfulness.
b. transf. and fig. An introductory or preliminary act, proceeding, or event.
1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. i. 151 My death..is made the Prologue to their Play: For thousands more..Will not conclude their plotted Tragedie. 1649Jer. Taylor Gt. Exemp. iii. Disc. xviii. 70 God hath provided for us certain prologues of judgement and keeps us waking with alarms. 1770Junius Lett. xli. (1820) 207 Accept of this address..as a prologue to more important scenes. 1871G. H. Napheys Prev. & Cure Dis. i. ix. 307 The second childhood of the aged may be the prologue to a second youth.
2. One who speaks or recites the prologue to a play on the stage.
1579J. Stubbes Gaping Gulf F j, She is dressing her Prologue to send him in, trust him not. 1599[see 3]. 1606Choice, Chance, etc. (1881) 45 A spruse companion..who..as if he had bin a prologue to a play, with a wink and simper thus begins. 1761[see prologuize]. 1763J. Brown Poetry & Mus. xxxix. 169 The Prologue [of China] resembles that uncouth one of Greece, that is, he tells you who he is, and what is his Errand.
3. attrib. and Comb., as prologue-speaker, prologue-writer; prologue-like adv.
1560Ingelend Disob. Child A ij b, Here the Prologue speaker goeth out. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, Enter Prologue... Admit me Chorus to this Historie; Who Prologue-like, your humble patience pray, Gently to beare, kindly to iudge our Play. 1713Pope Let. to Sir W. Trumbull 30 Apr., This was the Case too of the Prologue-writer. 1762Garrick Prol. Colman's Musical Lady, We'll tie our prologuemonger's hands. 1898S. Evans Holy Graal 183 The Prologue-writer called himself Crestien.
▪ II. ˈprologue, v.
[f. prec. n.: cf. obs. F. prologu(i)er (c 1400 in Godef.). Formerly (prəˈlɒg).]
1. trans. To introduce or furnish with a prologue.
1701De Foe True-born Eng. ii. 155 His first discourses generally appear, Prologu'd with his own wondrous Character. 1701Farquhar Sir H. Wildair Prol., Our authors have, in most their late essays, Prologued their own, by damning other plays. 1889Sat. Rev. 21 Dec. 705/1 Mr. Austin Dobson..prologues and epilogues the selection with charming verses of his own.
2. fig. To introduce, preface.
1601Shakes. All's Well ii. i. 95 Thus he his speciall nothing euer prologues. 1680Hickeringill Meroz 9 How were our Miseries..Prologu'd with a Noise of Arbitrary Government in the Case of Ship-Money? 1762Foote Orator i. Wks. 1799 I. 202 A smart house, prefaced with white rails, and prologued by a red door, with a brass knocker.
†3. To spend (time) in introductory remarks.
1622Callis Stat. Sewers (1647) 119, I esteem the time to be almost lost or mispent which is prologued out in preambles. |