A scene or view that comes before the main event; a preliminary scene or prospect.
From 'fore' (before) + 'scene' (stage setting or vista). Though rarely used in modern English, it appears in 17th-century theatrical contexts describing opening scenes.
In Shakespeare's time, 'forescene' would have described the opening tableau that set up the entire play—a theatrical term that faded as 'prelude' and 'prologue' became standard.
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