pre-, prae-

A reference to any period for which there is no documentary evidence and the study of cultures before written history or of more recent cultures lacking formal historical records.

A term that refers to prehistory which differs from history in dealing with the activities of a society or culture, not of the individual; it is restricted to the material evidence that has survived.

1. Any period for which there is no documentary evidence and the study of cultures before written history or of more recent cultures lacking formal historical records.
2. In a strict sense, "history" is an account of the past recovered from written records, but such an account can be prepared from other sources, notably archaeology.
3. The term prehistory was coined by Daniel Wilson in 1851 to cover the story of man's development before the appearance of writing.
4. It is succeeded by protohistory, the period for which we have some records but must still rely largely on archaeological evidence to give us a coherent account.
5. Prehistory differs from history in dealing with the activities of a society or culture, not of the individual; it is restricted to the material evidence that has survived.

A glandular secretory product, having little or no inherent biological potency, that is converted peripherally to an active hormone.

To drink before or previously.

Preceding the establishment of milk flow; a term applied to the feeding of a newborn baby with carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions to reduce initial weight loss until breast feeding is fully established.

Occurring before the development of language.

1. A preliminary performance, action, event, or condition, coming before and introducing one of more importance; an introduction, preface (to a literary work).
2. In music, a movement or piece forming the introduction to a musical work; especially such a movement preceding a fugue or forming the first piece of a suite.
3. Etymology: from Middle French prélude, "notes sung" or "played to test a voice or instrument" (1532); from Middle Latin preludium, "prelude, preliminary"; from Latin prĉludere, "to play beforehand for practice, to preface"; from prĉ-, "before" + ludere, "to play".

An introduction; indicating that something of a similar kind is to follow.