forerunner, vancourier†, avant-coureur [Fr.], pioneer, prodrome†,
prodromos†, prodromus†, outrider; leader, bellwether; herald, harbinger;
foreboding; dawn; avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare†, forelooper†,
foreloper†, stalking-horse, voorlooper [Afrik.], voortrekker [Afrik.].
prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos
[Fr.], protasis†, proemium†, prolusion†, proem, prolepsis [Gramm.],
prolegomena, prefix, introduction; heading, frontispiece, groundwork;
preparation &c 673; overture, exordium [Lat.], symphony; premises.
prefigurement &c 511; omen &c 512.
Adj. precursory; prelusive, prelusory, preludious†; proemial†,
introductory, prefatory, prodromous†, inaugural, preliminary; precedent
&c (prior) 116.
Phr. a precedent embalms a principle [Disraeli].