Lewis & Short

prō-lūdo, si, sum, 3, v. n., to play or practise beforehand, to prelude.

  1. I. Lit.: et sparsā ad pugnam proludit harenā, Verg. G. 3, 234.
    Absol.: sic ubi prolusit, etc., Ov. A. A. 3, 515; Flor. 3, 22, 6.
  2. II. Trop.: sententiis, quibus proluserint, which served them for previous exercise, * Cic. de Or. 2, 80, 325: jurgia proludunt, Juv. 5, 26: per has mortalis aevi moras illi meliori vitae longiorique proluditur, Sen. Ep. 102, 23: cum per ista prolusum est, crescunt maria, id. Q. N. 3, 28, 3: prima per legatos habita certamina, cum hinc Domitius et Thorius, inde Hirtulei proluderent, opened the contest, Flor. 3, 22, 6: prolusit dolor per ista noster, Sen. Med. 907; id. Hippol. 1061; id. Herc. Fur. 221.