prequel
noun/ˈpɹiːkwəl/
Etymology From pre- (“before”) + quel, by analogy with sequel.
1
Human sciences, Linguistics, Narratology, Sciences In a series of works, an installment that is set chronologically before its predecessor, especially the original narrative or (perhaps improper usage) any narrative work with at least one sequel.
- 'Prequels' are sequels that relate the story that preceded the original film.1980, Patrick Robertson, Movie Facts and Feats: A Guinness Record Book, New York: Sterling Publishing, page 43:
- Set in 1935, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom probably has to be called a pre-sequel, or prequel, to Raiders of the Lost Ark, which was set in 1936, but it isn’t pulpy in the way that Raiders was.1984, Pauline Kael, The New Yorker:
1 more example
- 2008, 26 February, Andrew Pierce, "JRR Tolkien's estate to sue Lord of the Rings filmmakers New Line Cinema over profits, in The Daily Telegraph They are also threatening to block the production of the long-awaited prequel, The Hobbit, which may now be cancelled.
- Antonyms
- sequel
- Derived terms
- prequelise, prequelization, prequelize
- Coordinate terms
- midquel