Epigraph vs. Prologue

Epigraphnoun

An inscription, especially on a building.

Epigraphnoun

A literary quotation placed at the beginning of a book or other text.

Epigraphnoun

The set of all points lying on or above the function's graph.

Epigraphverb

(transitive) To provide (a literary work) with an epigraph.

Epigraphnoun

Any inscription set upon a building; especially, one which has to do with the building itself, its founding or dedication.

Epigraphnoun

A citation from some author, or a sentence framed for the purpose, placed at the beginning of a work or of its separate divisions; a motto.

Epigraphnoun

a quotation at the beginning of some piece of writing

Epigraphnoun

an engraved inscription

Prologuenoun

A speech or section used as an introduction, especially to a play or novel.

Prologuenoun

One who delivers a prologue.

Prologuenoun

(computing) A component of a computer program that prepares the computer to execute a routine.

Prologuenoun

(cycling) An individual time trial before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage.

Prologueverb

To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.

Prologuenoun

The preface or introduction to a discourse, poem, or performance; as, the prologue of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales;" esp., a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance

Prologuenoun

One who delivers a prologue.

Prologueverb

To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.

Prologuenoun

an introduction to a play

Prologue

A prologue or prolog (from Greek πρόλογος prólogos, from πρό pró, and λόγος lógos, ) is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Ancient Greek prólogos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance, more like the meaning of preface.