prologetic

English

Etymology

Probably either from the Latin prologēticus or formed in English as prologue +‎ -etic, in both cases resembling a hypothetical Ancient Greek etymon of the form *προλογητικός (prologētikós), from πρόλογος (prólogos, “prologue”) +‎ -ητικός (-ētikós, “-etic”), a formation akin to the extant words ἀναλογητικός (analogētikós, “analogetic”) (from ἀνάλογος (análogos), whence analogue), ἀπολογητικός (apologētikós, “apologetic”) (from ἀπόλογος (apólogos), whence apologue), and ὁμολογητικός (homologētikós, “homologetic”) (from ὁμόλογος (homólogos), whence homologue).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, UK) IPA^(key): /pɹɒləˈd͡ʒiːtɪk/, /pɹəʊləˈd͡ʒiːtɪk/

Adjective

prologetic (not comparable)

1. (rare, also quasi-substantive) Occurring in or serving as a prologue.
   • 1855, Walter Murray Gibson, The Prison of Weltevreden, Contents, page ix:

     PROLOGETIC. Description of Prison of Weltevreden [etc.…] 1

   • 1873, R.F. Calixte, translated by A.V.S. Sligo, The Life of the Venerable Anna Maria Taigi, page 303:

     The simple matter-of-fact style of the narrative is, from its unobtrusive character, more adapted for spiritual reading than the views and generalisations, and prologetic extenuations of more recent biographers.

   • 1928, Heinrich Khunrath, translated by Manly Palmer Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, Conclusion, page 203:

     To this portal ascent is made by a mystic, indisputably prologetic, flight of steps.

Translations

occurring in or serving as a prologue

Anagrams

• petrologic