The Collaborative International Dictionary
Prelude \Pre*lude"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Preluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Preluding.] [L. praeludere, praelusum; prae before + ludere to play: cf. F. pr['e]luder. See Ludicrous.] To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.
The musicians preluded on their instruments.
--Sir. W.
Scott.
We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to
the point.
--Jeffrey.
Wiktionary
n. Something serving as a prelude; an introductory work or remark. vb. (present participle of prelude English)
Usage examples of "preluding".
So still and subdued and yet somehow preluding was all the scene, and such an incantation of revery lurked in the air, that each silent sailor seemed resolved into his own invisible self.
This great ritual had to be performed by each successive Horus-King, (perhaps even each year) at a specific time preluding the ‘rising of Orion’.