preface

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pref=ace

CIDE DICTIONARY

preface, n. [F. préface; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See Fate.].

•  Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.  [1913 Webster]

  "This superficial tale
  Is but a preface of her worthy praise."  [1913 Webster]

  "Heaven's high behest no preface needs."  [1913 Webster]
•  The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass.  Addis & Arnold.  [1913 Webster]

Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons.

Syn. -- Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.

preface, v. t. 

 To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.  [1913 Webster]

preface, v. i. 

 To make a preface.  Jer. Taylor.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

preface, n. & v.
--n.
1 an introduction to a book stating its subject, scope, etc.
2 the preliminary part of a speech.
3 Eccl. the introduction to the central part of the Eucharistic service.
--v.tr.
1 (foll. by with) introduce or begin (a speech or event) (prefaced my remarks with a warning).
2 provide (a book etc.) with a preface.
3 (of an event etc.) lead up to (another).

Derivative

prefatorial adj. prefatory adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. med.L praefatia for L praefatio f. praefari (as PRAE-, fari speak)

THESAURUS

preface

acknowledgments, anteriority, avant-propos, back, back matter, bastard title, begin, bibliography, bold front, brave face, brave front, breakthrough, catch line, catchword, colophon, contents, contents page, copyright page, dedication, display, endleaf, endpaper, endsheet, errata, exordium, facade, face, facet, facia, flyleaf, folio, fore, fore edge, forefront, foreground, forehand, foreland, forepart, forequarter, foreside, foreword, front, front elevation, front man, front matter, front page, front view, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, half-title page, head, heading, imprint, index, innovation, inscription, introduce, introduction, lap, lead, leaf, leap, makeup, obverse, open, overture, page, postulate, preamble, precede, prefix, prefixture, preliminaries, preliminary, prelude, premise, presupposition, priority, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologize, prologue, proscenium, protasis, recto, reverso, running title, signature, subtitle, table of contents, tail, text, title, title page, trim size, type page, usher, verse, verso, voluntary, window dressing

ROGET THESAURUS

preface

Precedence

VB precede, come before, come first, head, lead, take the lead, lead the way, lead the dance, be in the vanguard, introduce, usher in, have the pas, set the fashion, open the ball, take precedence, have precedence, have the start, place before, prefix, premise, prelude, preface.

Precursor

N precursor, antecedent, precedent, predecessor, forerunner, vancourier, avant-coureur, pioneer, prodrome, prodromos, prodromus, outrider, leader, bellwether, herald, harbinger, foreboding, dawn, avant-courier, avant-garde, bellmare, forelooper, foreloper, stalking-horse, voorlooper, voortrekker, prelude, preamble, preface, prologue, foreword, avant-propos, protasis, proemium, prolusion, proem, prolepsis, prolegomena, prefix, introduction, heading, frontispiece, groundwork, preparation, overture, exordium, symphony, premises, prefigurement, omen, precursory, prelusive, prelusory, preludious, proemial, introductory, prefatory, prodromous, inaugural, preliminary, precedent, a precedent embalms a principle.