praecentĭo, ōnis, f. [praecino],
a singing or playing before a sacrifice, a battle, etc., a prelude , Cic. Har. Resp. 10, 21: tran quilla, Gell. 1, 11, 4.
praecentiō ōnis, f prae+1 CAN-, a musical prelude . ...
An Elementary Latin Dictionary