preface

A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others' contributions; especially, such a discussion written by the work's own author.

Noun

  1. A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others' contributions; especially, such a discussion written by the work's own author.
    • Holonyms: front matter, prelims
    • The book included a brief preface explaining the author's motivations for writing.

    Coordinate Terms: prologue introduction preamble foreword forespeech foretale foretalk

  2. An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
    • This superficial tale / Is but a preface of her worthy praise. - 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First...
    • Heav'ns high behest no preface needs. - 1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […],...
    • And now, without any further preface, we proceed to our next chapter. - 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, page 7:
  3. A variable prayer forming the prelude or introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer or canon of the Mass, following the Sursum corda dialogue and leading into the Sanctus.
    • Meronyms: protocol, embolism, eschatocol
  4. A title or epithet.
    • […] a black-tie dinner to celebrate on the eve of the ceremony which would remove the preface "Sir" from his name and replace it with the preface "Lord," thought by some to be one of the most potent words in the English...

Origin

Late 14th century, from Middle English preface, prefas, from Old French preface (from which derives the modern French préface), from Medieval Latin prefātia, for classical Latin praefātiō (“a saying beforehand”), from praefor (“to speak beforehand”), from prae- (“beforehand”) + for (“to speak”).

Forms

prefaces præface Preface

Derived

postface prefaceless prefacer prefacist

Verb

  1. To introduce or make a comment before (the main point); to premise.
    • Let me preface this by saying that I don't know him that well.
  2. To give a preface to.
    • to preface a book

Forms

prefaces prefacing prefaced præface Preface

Related

prefatory prelude