O"ver*ture (?), [OF. overture, F. ouverture, fr. OF. ovrir, F. ouvrir. See Overt.]
1.
An opening or aperture; a recess; a recess; a chamber.
[Obs.]
Spenser. "The cave's inmost
overture."
Chapman.
2.
Disclosure; discovery; revelation.
[Obs.]
It was he
That made the overture of thy treasons to us.
Shak.
3.
A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection.
"The great
overture of the gospel."
Barrow.
4. Mus.
A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in the latter case a concert overture.
© Webster 1913.
O"ver*ture, v. t.
To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject.
© Webster 1913.