preface
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preface¹
- /ˈpɹɛfəs/ US, UK
- /ˈpɹɛfɪs/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛfəs
Where it comes from
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”).
noun prefaces · præface · 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. Holonyms: front matter, prelims
- An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks. This superficial tale / Is but a preface of her worthy praise.
- 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.
verb prefaces · prefacing · prefaced · præface · Preface
- 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.
- To give a preface to. to preface a book
Preface²
noun Prefaces
- Alternative letter-case form of preface (“prayer before the canon of the Mass”).
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: foreword, prolusion, premise, introduce, preamble, prologue, proem, prelude, preambular, introduction, precede, this, enter, start, begin, export
Translations
Every language
noun introduction before the main text
| Español | prefacio |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 서문 seomun, 머리말 meorimal, 발간사 balgansa |
| 日本語 | 序文 jobun, 前書き maegaki |
| 中文 | 序言 xùyán, 序文 xùwén, 前言 qiányán, 緒言 /绪言 xùyán |
| हिन्दी | प्रस्तावना prastāvnā |
| Português | prefácio |
| Français | préface |
| Deutsch | Vorwort, Vorrede |
| Italiano | prefazione, proemio, introduzione |
| Ελληνικά | πρόλογος prólogos |
| Română | prefață |
| Русский | предисло́вие predislóvije, введе́ние vvedénije, проло́г prológ, вступле́ние vstuplénije |
| Tiếng Việt | lời tựa |
| العربية | مُقَدِّمَة muqaddima |
noun prayer before the canon of the Mass
| Español | prefacio |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 頌謝詞 /颂谢词 sòngxiècí |
| Français | préface |
| Deutsch | Präfation |
| Italiano | prefazio |
verb to introduce a text
| Español | introducir, prologar |
|---|---|
| Português | prefaciar |
| Français | préfacer |
| Ελληνικά | προλογίζω prologízo |
| Русский | предваря́ть predvarjátʹ, предпосыла́ть predposylátʹ |
Talk about this word "preface." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/preface. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. preface. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/preface "preface." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/preface.Cite this
@misc{preface_2026,
title = {preface},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/preface},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
