He knew, as Storm did, that this was just the leading edge of the nightmare coming for them, the merest prelude to what lay ahead.

Also, it is considered by many as an anachronism, mere prelude to a party on the river for Hooray Henrys.

Although he was stranded at third, it was a mere prelude of what was to come.

Democrats counter that the House's nonbinding resolution is a mere prelude to concrete things to come: "We're not done!"

For the Hispanic immigrants who survive a crash, the physical trauma is mere prelude.

All this was mere prelude as the poem unfolded like some dark flower.

Everything until now, all the troubles in his life, had been mere prelude.

That kiss had been a mere prelude to the magnificence of their lovemaking.

At the same time, the pure narrative seems like a mere prelude.

But all that was a mere prelude.