proludium
From LSJ
αἱ μέν ἀποφάσεις ἐπί τῶν θείων ἀληθεῖς, αἱ δέ καταφάσεις ἀνάρμοστοι τῇ κρυφιότητι τῶν ἀποῤῥήτων → as concerns the things of the gods, negative pronouncements are true, but positive ones are inadequate to their hidden character
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
prōlūdĭum: ĭi, n. proludo,
I preliminary exercise, training (late Lat.): cum quasi in proludiis negotium spectaretur, Amm. 28, 1, 10: cotidiana proludia exercitūs, id. 14, 11, 3: disciplinae castrensis, id. 16, 5, 10.
