Preamble

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: pre=am=ble

CIDE DICTIONARY

Preamble, n. [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before + ambulare to walk: cf. F. préambule. See Amble.].

 A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document, etc.; specifically, the introductory part of a statute, which states the reasons and intent of the law.  [1913 Webster]

Preamble, v. t. & i. 

 To make a preamble to; to preface; to serve as a preamble.  Feltham. Milton.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Preamble, n.
1 a preliminary statement or introduction.
2 the introductory part of a statute or deed etc.

Derivative

preambular adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF preambule f. med.L praeambulum f. LL praeambulus (adj.) going before (as PRE-, AMBLE)

THESAURUS

Preamble

avant-propos, breakthrough, exordium, foreword, front matter, frontispiece, innovation, introduce, introduction, leap, overture, postulate, preface, prefix, prefixture, preliminary, prelude, premise, presupposition, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologize, prologue, protasis, verse, voluntary

ROGET THESAURUS

Preamble

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.