Prolegomenon

//ˌpɹoʊlɪˈɡɑmənɑn// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A prefatory discussion; a formal essay or critical discussion serving to introduce and interpret an extended work.

    "Frye here is not rewriting myth as some assume. Her prolegomenon is intended to be read as fiction not autobiography."

  2. 2
    a preliminary discussion inserted at the beginning of a book or treatise wordnet

Example

More examples

"Frye here is not rewriting myth as some assume. Her prolegomenon is intended to be read as fiction not autobiography."

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek neuter noun: προλεγόμενον (prolegómenon, “that which is said beforehand,”) [plural: προλεγόμενα (prolegómena), from the verb: προλέγω (prolégō, “I say before[hand]”)] referring to an introduction.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.