1 September 2014

overture

[oh-ver-cher, -choo r]

noun

1. an opening or initiating move toward negotiations, a new relationship, an agreement, etc.; a formal or informal proposal or offer:
overtures of peace; a shy man who rarely made overtures of friendship.
2. Music.
an orchestral composition forming the prelude or introduction to an opera, oratorio, etc.
an independent piece of similar character.
3. an introductory part, as of a poem; prelude; prologue.
4. the action of an ecclesiastical court in submitting a question or proposal to presbyteries.
the proposal or question so submitted.
verb (used with object), overtured, overturing.
5. to submit as an overture or proposal:
to overture conditions for a ceasefire.
6. to make an overture or proposal to:
to overture one’s adversary through a neutral party.

Origin

1300-50; Middle English < Old French; see overt, -ure; doublet of aperture
Synonyms Expand

1. See proposal.

for overture

– overture ranks ads according to how much advertisers bid.
– There is no fear in this glance, but neither is there curiosity or any sort of social overture.
– Overture is really a great one because of its elegant simplicity.

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Today’s aphorism

Imagination is but another name for super intelligence.

– Edgar Rice Burroughs

On this day

1 September 1875 – birth of Edgar Rice Burroughs, American science fiction author: Tarzan, Mars series (on which the 2012 movie ‘John Carter‘ was based).

1 September 1939 – official commencement of World War II, when Germany invaded Poland.