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sequel

n.
US //ˈsikwəɫ// UK //sˈiːkwəl// se·quel
  1. 1 film or book (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a book, film, or play that continues a story started in an earlier one.

    a narrative work that continues the story or develops the theme of an earlier one.

    Example

    The first movie was a huge success, so the studio quickly filmed a sequel.

    Example

    Critics argued that the sequel failed to capture the original film's charm, despite having a significantly larger production budget.

  2. 2 a consequence (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    something that happens as a result of an earlier event.

    a circumstance or event that follows as a consequence or result of a previous occurrence.

    Example

    The riots were a tragic sequel to the disputed election results.

    Example

    The economic downturn was a painful sequel to years of reckless lending and insufficient market regulation.

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  1. 3 later in a text (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal

    the part of a piece of writing that follows later.

    the remainder of a text or discourse; frequently used in the phrase 'in the sequel' to refer to subsequent sections of an argument.

    Example

    As we shall see in the sequel, this theory has several flaws.

    Example

    The author introduces the primary characters in the opening chapter and develops their complex motivations further in the sequel.

    Usage

    Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'in the sequel'.

Origin

From Middle English sequele, sequelle, sequile, from Middle French sequele, sequelle and its etymon, Latin sequēla, from sequī (“to follow”). Doublet of sequela.

Word family

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