Thursday word: prolegomenon

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

prolegomenon (proh-li-GOM-uh-non) - n., an introduction, prefatory remark, esp. a formal essay that introduces and interprets the work that follows.


It seems I've been mispronouncing this -- I put the stress on the fourth syllable. Ah, well. First borrowed in 1652 in the sense of the learned preamble to a book from Greek, where it is the neuter passive present participle of prolegein, to say beforehand, from pro-, before + legein, to speak (the root of lecture). Preface is the exact same meaning, only from Latin roots.

Some people see death as a prolegomenon to another life.

---L.

Comments

[ersatz-read.livejournal.com]

Ah, like 'necronomicon' except it's a more useful real-world word. Well, depending on one's world, I suppose.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Heh.