pre-

before

2 / 2

Two illustrated novels pair unmistakably earlier events with a later intrinsic publication date: the first-published book depicts an older adventurer at a ruined tower; the later-published book depicts that same adventurer as a young woman at the intact tower.

noun

prequel

PREE-kwuhl/ˈpriːkwəl/

A later-created story whose events precede those of an existing work.

Etymology

preEnglishbefore

+quelEnglisha continuing story

Pre- reshapes sequel to reverse its narrative direction: instead of continuing events forward, a prequel tells what happened before the events of an existing story.

Full entry

Related word entries

prefab
prequel