▪ I. proem, n.
(ˈprəʊɪm)
Forms: 4–6 proheme, 5 -heim, 6 proëme, 6–7 proœme, 6–9 proeme, 7–8 proëm, 7–9 proœm, 6– proem. See also proemy, proœmium.
[ME. proheme, a. OF. pro(h)eme (14th c. in Godef. Compl.), mod.F. proême, ad. L. proœmi-um (Cic.), ad. Gr. προοίµιον an opening, prelude, f. πρό, pro-2 + οἶµος way, road, or ? οἴµη song, lay.]
An introductory discourse at the beginning of a book or other writing; a preface, preamble.
| c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's Prol. 43 (Harl. MS.) He first with heigh stile enditith..A proheme [v.rr. prohemye, -ie, prochem, procheyn] in the which descriuith he The mounde [v.r. Pemonde] and of Saluces þe contre. c 1475 Partenay 29 In the proheim off hys notabile boke. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 64 As testifieth Cicero in the proheme of the offices. 1594 Carew Huarte's Exam. Wits ix. (1596) 123 That doctrine of S. Hierome, which is found in his proem vpon Esay and Hierimie. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. (1701) 120/2 Seven Books; each of which..hath a Proœm, the whole none. 1731 Swift On his Death 71 Thus much may serve by way of proem; Proceed we therefore to our poem. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. Introd. ii. 60 The proeme, or preamble, is often called in to help the construction of an act of parliament. a 1861 Mrs. Browning Summing up in Italy ix, I began too far off in my proem. 1882 Farrar Early Chr. II. 404 The proœm of the Gospel declared that ‘the Word became flesh’. |
b. The prefatory part of a speech or discourse; the preliminary remarks; an exordium.
| 1541 Paynell Catiline xii. 16 b, M. Cicero..called a great counsayle. He began with a proeme farre fetched, to declare the vengeable dryftes & mischeuous imaginations of Catiline. 1548 Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. Mark x. 70 With this proheme Jesus discouraged the yong man. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 549 So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tun'd. 1748 Geddes Comp. Antients 84 The proem is the first part of an oration. 1865 Grote Plato I. iii. 130 note, He some⁓times..opened the debate by a proœm or prefatory address in his own person. |
c. fig. A commencement, beginning, prelude.
| 1641 M. Frank Serm., St. Paul's Day (1672) 216 These yet are but the Proems of his mercy. 1788 H. Walpole Remin. Lett. 1857 I. p. xcii, The reign of George I was little more than the proem to the history of England under the House of Brunswick. 1874 H. R. Reynolds John Bapt. ii. 67 It then becomes part of a record which..does not shrink from the supernatural, the proem of a unique life. |
▪ II. † proem, -eme, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. prec. n.; cf. L. proœmi-ārī to make an introduction.]
trans. To preface, introduce.
| 1658 South Serm. (1744) VIII. xiii. 367 Moses might..very well proœme the repetition of the covenant with this upbraiding reprehension. |