Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PRE'LUDE, n. [Fr. id.; It. and Sp. preludio; Low L. præludium, from præludo; præ, before, and ludo, to play.]

1. A short flight of music, or irregular air played by a musician before he begins the piece to be played, or before full concert. – Encyc. Young.
2. Something introductory or that shows what is to follow; something preceding which bears some relation or resemblance to that which is to follow. The last Georgic was a good prelude to the Æneis. – Addison.
3. A forerunner; something which indicates a future event.