That which comes before the “sequel” [closed]

Question

The word "sequel" comes from the the Latin word sequela which means "that which follows" This Latin word is formed of two parts, "sequi" which is "to follow", and a suffix to make it a noun,"-ela".

If "sequel" means a following work which continues the narrative of the main work, what is a work that is before the main work?

As in "Little Men is the sequel to Little Women, but its "___" is actually Jo's boys"

I don't like "prequel", because it is assuming the root word is "quel", which isn't the fact. The fact is that "sequel" came from "sequi", and "prequel" doesn't actually come from anything. I would like an alternative.

Does anyone have any suggestions for words referring to works predating the referred work other than prequel?

Answer 1

You could use "precedent work", although more people will understand what you mean if you say "prequel".

Answer 2

1. Prequel is not “wrong”: it is widely used since the 1960’s and, as such, is documented in dictionaries (“a story or movie containing events that precede those of an existing work”, says NOAD). Because it is formed by merging the prefix pre- and sequel, rather than being directly derived from Latin roots, does not make it “wrong”, or impure, or evil, or whatever term with a moral connotation.

2. Latin doesn't have a single root for “come before”, leaving us with praecedo or praevenio. Both roots have English decendents, namely precedent and prevenient. The latter is probably the closest to what you want (but it's an adjective, not a noun):

prevenient (adjective, formal)
preceding in time or order; antecedent: John Wesley referred to God’s work in the unconverted as prevenient grace.

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Let's see a real use case:

– Have you seen the Star Wars prequel trilogy? That's badass CGI!
– I enjoyed the original trilogy, but I don't think very highly of Lucas’ prevenient story arc.

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If you don't want to sound pedant and still want to avoid prequel, there are a number of alternative wordings such as preceding opus (or work).

Answer 3

Your explanation would be technically right but it's wrong and I'll try to explain why.

The word is Prequel, like the others said. Sequel might originally come from the Latin word sequi, but sequel has been absorbed by English and doesn't obey Latin constructions anymore, so using Latin might not be right and this is the case.

I'll give you a similar example: the word "Watergate" was originally the term used for a famous scandal in United States. The term was taken from a building that was named like that, where interceptions were made.
Years later, another scandal in the U.S. was named "Sexgate". The explanation is that every scandal now takes the suffix -gate that per se means nothing. But now it has acquired the meaning "scandal regarding..." or something similar.

Same goes for sequel, where -quel became a sort of suffix in the cinema field; therefore, prequel is perfectly acceptable.

Answer 4

Maybe plain simple "the previous work" (or novel or article or pretty much anything you need)?

In his previous article on sea monsters in fantasy campaigns Mr. Knowitall presented us with several fascinating - and dreadfull - life forms, found in deepest corners of the Ocean.

Answer 5

I think you are looking for "original".

According to Wikipedia

• Hannibal Rising (2007)
• Red Dragon (2002)

Are called prequels

• The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Is the original

A fictitious Return of Hannibal (2015) would be a sequel.

Answer 6

The word is "prequel". The fact that it has no authenticity in Latin is irrelevant.

If you insist on classically-formed words, the best I can think of is "predecessor", but this is less precise, as it does not indicate whether it precedes in internal or external chronology.

Answer 7

As has been said, there's no problem with "prequel", but perhaps "prelude" also fits the bill and has the roots you're after.

Answer 8

In popular literature and movie culture I've come across prequel, but I don't know if that stands the tests of linguistics, etymology and valid sources and references often required here.