praeambulum

Forms

praeambulum n (genitive praeambulī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Late Latin praeambulus (“walking before, preliminary”), used as a noun in the neuter.^[2][3][4] Wiktionary also connects it with the verb praeambulō (“to walk before”).^[1] Etymonline analyses ⟨praeambulus⟩ as prae- (“before”) and ambulō (“to walk”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Gerald of Wales has praeambula for preliminary remarks in a preface.^[2] The first dated example is in the Statutes of Worcester of 1240, which list psalms, hymns and the praeambula of the sacrament.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In British Medieval Latin it meant a preliminary expression or concept, an introductory passage or section of a written work, and the courteous opening of a letter.^[2] Roger Bacon and John Wyclif used it of the preliminaries of an argument, and a letter of Bekynton (1437) speaks of a preparation for the coming of Antichrist.^[2] In music it named an instrumental prelude: a 15th-century treatise gives rules for making praeambula.^[5] Polish Medieval Latin used it for a beginning or preliminary action.^[6]

The word lives on in French préambule, Italian preambolo and Spanish preámbulo,^[1] and English preamble (late 14th century) comes from Old French and directly from Medieval Latin.^[3]

Timeline

• 1240 – The Statutes of Worcester mention the praeambula of the sacrament.^[2]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as preamble.^[3]
• 1437 – A letter of Bekynton uses it for a preparation or forerunner.^[2]
• 15th century – A music treatise uses it for instrumental preludes.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. A preamble, preface; an introductory passage or section of a written work.^[1][2][4]
2. A preliminary remark or concept; a preliminary step.^[2][6]
3. A preparation for or forerunner of something.^[2]
4. (music) An instrumental prelude.^[5]

Related words

• ambulō
• English preamble

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Lexicon musicum Latinum medii aevi (1992–), Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften; online ed. Wörterbuchnetz
6. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl