postlude

noun

post·​lude ˈpōst-ˌlüd 

1

: a closing piece of music

especially : an organ voluntary at the end of a church service

2

: a closing phase (as of an epoch or a literary work)

Did you know?

Postlude is the lesser-known counterpart to "prelude" - and in fact, "postlude" was created based on the example of "prelude," substituting "post-" for "pre-." At the root of both terms is the Latin verb ludere ("to play"), and a postlude is essentially "something played afterward." Although "prelude" first appeared in print in the 16th century, "postlude" didn't turn up until 1851. "Prelude" was first used in the general sense of "something preliminary" and only later acquired its musical application, while "postlude" developed in the opposite direction, originating as a musical term before broadening to include other kinds of closings. Both words are also related to "interlude," which can refer, among other things, to a musical composition inserted between the parts of a larger whole.

Examples of postlude in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The event is led by Bob Lundy and Elizabeth Yahn Williams with preludes and postludes of pianist Andrew Wong and assisted by artist Marion Wong, illustrator of the HAÏKU for an Artist series. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2019

The dance now continues and switches gears as sound bites of Ailey and of Mr. Harris present a postlude suggesting them in conversation. —Robert Greskovic, WSJ, 12 Dec. 2018

Make a very long weekend of your trip to the Berkshires with three Boston Symphony concerts and, as a postlude on Monday, an evening with the young players of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. —New York Times, 12 July 2018

The 14 songs that made up Wednesday’s program were grouped in three sets, with an introduction and postlude, collectively exploring mortal interaction with the gods, the Orestes myth and the deities themselves. —John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 7 Sep. 2017

Perhaps the best thing to do with GWTW is to ask anyone who shows the film to put together a prelude or postlude — or maybe a little presentation for the intermission that is usually provided — that interrogates the film’s presentation of history. —Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, 30 Aug. 2017

The six postlude concerts next season will be played by Peter Richard Conte. —Peter Dobrin, Philly.com, 7 Aug. 2017

The postlude concerts were studded with some wonderful surprises. —Peter Dobrin, Philly.com, 1 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

post- + -lude (as in prelude)

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

postlude

noun

post·​lude ˈpōst-ˌlüd 

: a closing piece of music

especially : an organ piece at the end of a church service