preface

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

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Preface

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[edit] Alternative spellings

• præface (archaic)

[edit] Etymology

1350-1400; Middle English prefas < Old French preface (modern: préface) < Mediaeval Latin prefatia, for classical praefatio, a saying beforehand, from praefor, to speak beforehand, from prae- (“‘beforehand’”) + for (“‘to speak’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -ɛfəs

[edit] Noun

preface (plural prefaces)

1. The beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book.

   The book included a brief preface by a leading expert in the field.

[edit] Synonyms

• anteloquy

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to preface (third-person singular simple present prefaces, present participle prefacing, simple past and past participle prefaced)

1. (transitive) To introduce or make a comment before the main point.

   Let me preface this by saying that I don't know him that well.

[edit] See also

• foreword
• introduction
• prelude