preface en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈpɹɛfəs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- /ˈpɹɛfɪs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
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”).
Meanings
-
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.
The book included a brief preface explaining the author's motivations for writing.
Holonyms: front matter, prelims
-
An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
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, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC: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 Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 118: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:
-
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
-
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 language.
2008, W. Bruce Kippen, Lords of the Frontier:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preface | alternative | lexicographic | |
| prefaces | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| præface | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
preamble · foretale · foreword · foreword · foretalk · introduction · prologue · forespeech
Deriveds
prefacist · prefaceless · prefacer · postface
Translations (109)
it proemio (introduction before the main text) · hu előszó (introduction before the main text) · bg предисло́вие (introduction before the main text) · cmn 前言 (introduction before the main text) · lv priekšvārds (introduction before the main text) · ang fōresæġdnes (introduction before the main text) · id sekapur sirih (introduction before the main text) · cmn 序言 (introduction before the main text) · de Vorwort (introduction before the main text) · az müqəddimə (introduction before the main text) · gu દીબાચો (introduction before the main text) · ru предисло́вие (introduction before the main text) · ug مۇقەددىمە (introduction before the main text) · ms mukadimah (introduction before the main text) · cmn 頌謝詞 /颂谢词 (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · mnc ᠶᠠᡵᡠᠨ (introduction before the main text) · kk кіріспе (introduction before the main text) · cy rhagair (introduction before the main text) · tg муқаддима (introduction before the main text) · hy առաջաբան (introduction before the main text) · oc prefaci (introduction before the main text) · tr önsöz (introduction before the main text) · ur مُقَدَّمَہ (introduction before the main text) · sv förord (introduction before the main text) · id mukadimah (introduction before the main text) · az önsöz (introduction before the main text) · fr préface (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · gu પ્રસ્તાવના (introduction before the main text) · km បុព្វកថា (introduction before the main text) · gd ro-ràdh (introduction before the main text) · yi האַגדאָמע (introduction before the main text) · io prefaco (introduction before the main text) · cmn 緒言 /绪言 (introduction before the main text) · sh пре̏дгово̄р (introduction before the main text) · prs دِیبَاچَه (introduction before the main text) · fa-ira مُقَدَّمِه (introduction before the main text) · it introduzione (introduction before the main text) · be прадмо́ва (introduction before the main text) · uz soʻzboshi (introduction before the main text) · cs předmluva (introduction before the main text) · sk úvod (introduction before the main text) · ka წინასიტყვაობა (introduction before the main text) · sh prȅdgovōr (introduction before the main text) · it prefazione (introduction before the main text) · es prefacio (introduction before the main text) · mi kupu takamua (introduction before the main text) · mk предговор (introduction before the main text) · fi johdanto (introduction before the main text) · hu prefáció (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · my နိဒါန်း (introduction before the main text) · pl wstęp (introduction before the main text) · th คำนำ (introduction before the main text) · id kata pengantar (introduction before the main text) · sq parathënie (introduction before the main text) · la prohoemium (introduction before the main text) · cmn 序文 (introduction before the main text) · tl pambungad (introduction before the main text) · pt prefácio (introduction before the main text) · te పీఠిక (introduction before the main text) · sk predhovor (introduction before the main text) · lt pratarmė (introduction before the main text) · ga réamhrá (introduction before the main text) · sk predslov (introduction before the main text) · fa-ira دیباچِه (introduction before the main text) · pdt Väaräd (introduction before the main text) · ru проло́г (introduction before the main text) · alt кире сӧс (introduction before the main text) · ja 序文 (introduction before the main text) · ur تَمْہِید (introduction before the main text) · ko 발간사 (introduction before the main text) · grc προοίμιον (introduction before the main text) · la praefātiō (introduction before the main text) · uk передмо́ва (introduction before the main text) · pl przedmowa (introduction before the main text) · bg пре́дговор (introduction before the main text) · gl prefacio (introduction before the main text) · id prefasi (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · yi הקדמה (introduction before the main text) · ko 서문 (introduction before the main text) · ca prefaci (introduction before the main text) · nrf préfache (introduction before the main text) · ur دِیباچَہ (introduction before the main text) · sl predgovor (introduction before the main text) · uz muqaddima (introduction before the main text) · et eessõna (introduction before the main text) · it prefazio (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · prs مُقَدَّمَه (introduction before the main text) · fi alkusanat (introduction before the main text) · ru введе́ние (introduction before the main text) · nl voorrede (introduction before the main text) · de Präfation (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · ky сөз башы (introduction before the main text) · de Vorrede (introduction before the main text) · ru вступле́ние (introduction before the main text) · nb forord (introduction before the main text) · vi lời tựa (introduction before the main text) · es prefacio (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · ja 前書き (introduction before the main text) · ro prefață (introduction before the main text) · da forord (introduction before the main text) · fr préface (introduction before the main text) · nl voorwoord (introduction before the main text) · ko 머리말 (introduction before the main text) · la praefātiō (prayer before the canon of the Mass) · mi kupu whakataki (introduction before the main text) · ar مُقَدِّمَة (introduction before the main text) · el πρόλογος (introduction before the main text) · cs úvod (introduction before the main text) · hi प्रस्तावना (introduction before the main text)