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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

A trial before the principal performance; a prelude; hence, an introductory essay or exercise. "Domestic prolusions." Thackeray. Her presence was in some measure a restraint on the worthy divine, whose prolusion lasted. Sir W. Scott.

Of, pertaining to, or conveying, preliminary instruction; introductory to any art or science; instructing beforehand.

Giving a previous narrative or explanation, as of the plot or personages of a play; introductory. = 32,500 yrs.) Also called brevium, Uranium X2 and UX2.

The introductory or subordinate member of a sentence, generally of a conditional sentence; -- opposed to apodosis. See Apodosis.

Of or pertaining to the protasis of an ancient play; introductory.

Modification by a reference to quantity; the introduction of the element of quantity. The quantification of the predicate belongs in part to Sir William Hamilton; viz., in its extension to negative propositions. De Quincey.

by the aid of the mnemonic quipu a body of legendary lore in part written down since the introduction of writing.

lain the reasons on which the transaction is founded; the statement of matter in pleading introductory to some positive allegation. Burn.

facture of gas in gas works. Tubulated retort (Chem.), a retort having a tubulure for the introduction or removal of the substances which are to be acted upon.

To cleancse by the introduction of water; -- applied especially to hollow vessels; as, to rinse a bottle. "Like a glass did break i' the rinsing." Shak.

ly with down. Macaulay. To scrape acquaintance, to seek acquaintance otherwise than by an introduction. Farquhar. He tried to scrape acquaintance with her, but failed ignominiously. G. W. Cable.

o believes that education and other matters of civil policy should be managed without the introduction of a religious element.

The poisoning of the system by the introduction of putrescent material into the blood.

or principle. Sterhydraulic press, an hydraulic press producing pressure or motion by the introduction of a solid substance (as a long rod, or a cord wound on a roller) into a cylinder previously filled with a liquid.

stomach, or for injecting them into it. -- Stomach tube (Med.), a long flexible tube for introduction into the stomach. -- Stomach worm (Zoöl.), the common roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides) found in the human intestine, and rarely in the stomach.

by injection into the sheath of the spinal cord, producing anæsthesia below the point of introduction.

An apparatus for the introduction of suppositories into the rectum.

A pill or bolus for introduction into the rectum; esp., a cylinder or cone of medicated cacao butter.

ransferring the blood of one man or animal into the vascular system of another; also, the introduction of any fluid into the blood vessels, or into a cavity of the body from which it can readily be adsorbed into the vessels; intrafusion; as, the peritoneal transfusion of milk.