a preliminary discussion, esp a formal critical introduction to a lengthy text
Derived forms
prolegomenal (ˌproleˈgomenal) or prolegomenary (ˌproleˈgomenary) or literary prolegomenous (ˌproleˈgomenous)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Greek, from prolegein, from pro-2 + legein to say
prolegomenous in American English
(ˌproulɪˈɡɑmənəs)
adjective
1.
prefatory; preliminary; introductory
2.
characterized by unnecessary or lengthy prologuizing
Word origin
[1740–50; prolegomen(on) + -ous]This word is first recorded in the period 1740–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: automatic, first class, kingfish, outrigger, snappy-ous is a suffix forming adjectives that have the general sense “possessing, full of”a given quality (covetous; glorious; nervous; wondrous); -ous and its variant -ious have often been used to Anglicize Latin adjectives with terminations that cannotbe directly adapted into English (atrocious; contiguous; garrulous; obvious; stupendous). As an adjective-forming suffix of neutral value, it regularly Anglicizes Greekand Latin adjectives derived without suffix from nouns and verbs; many such formationsare productive combining forms in English, sometimes with a corresponding nominalcombining form that has no suffix (as -fer and -ferous; -phore and -phorous; -pter and -pterous; -vore and -vorous)