noun
prequel
PREE-kwuhl/ˈpriːkwəl/
A later-created story whose events precede those of an existing work.
The later-published prequel follows the adventurer's youth before the tower falls into ruin.
Etymology
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.
In context
It's a prequel. It's like what happened before?
More examples
- The author writes a prequel set twenty years before her first novel.
- Watch the original movie before you watch its prequel.
- Both prequels explore the kingdom's early years.
Forms
prequel · prequels
Similar words
- backstory
- Describes earlier events without requiring a separately created work.