proludo Latin · revision 33699

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=ine-pro *loid-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''prōlūdō''' (present infinitive ''prōlūdere'', perfect active ''prōlūsī'', supine ''prōlūsum''); third conjugation^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prō-|lūdō|t2=to play]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan traces [[m|la|lūdō]] to [[itc-pro|*loid-e/o-|t=to play]] and [[ine-pro|*loid-|t=to let go often, play]];^(de Vaan 2008) cognate with [[lt|léisti|t=to let]].^(de Vaan 2008) Varro notes that its ⟨pro-⟩ means “before”.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cicero's ''De oratore'' speaks of phrases with which speakers have had their preliminary practice, so that they can fight with them.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to practise or skirmish before a fight, as Virgil's ''sparsā ad pugnam prōlūdit harēnā'', “scattering the sand, it practises for the fight”, and Ovid.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012) Florus has legates opening a contest with the first engagements.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) Figuratively it is to rehearse or be a prelude to something greater: Juvenal says quarrels are the prelude, the elder Seneca that a whole list of the proscribed is a prelude to someone's death, and Seneca that the delays of mortal life are a prelude to a better and longer one.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca also uses it of the seas rising after a prelude, and of grief that has only been rehearsing.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin has “practise beforehand”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero, of phrases used for practice.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil, of practising for a fight.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca, of mortal life as a prelude.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal, of quarrels as a prelude.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To carry out preliminary exercises before a fight, to [[m|en|practise]] beforehand.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(usually with dative)'' To [[m|en|rehearse]] for, be a [[m|en|prelude]] to.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[proludium]]

+ * [[prōlūsiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[lūdō]]

+ * [[lūdus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}