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, from praefor ("to speak beforehand"), from prae- ("beforehand") + for ("to speak").

• IPA: /ˈpɹɛfəs/, /ˈpɹɛfɪs/

preface (plural prefaces)

1. 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.

   Synonyms: foreword, introduction, proem, prologue, Thesaurus:foreword

   The book included a brief preface explaining the author's motivations for writing.

2. An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
   • 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 ↗:

     This superficial tale / Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

   • 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 ↗:

     Heav'ns high behest no preface needs.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume II, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC ↗, page 7 ↗:

     And now, without any further preface, we proceed to our next chapter.

3. (Christianity) 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

4. A title or epithet.
   • 2008, W. Bruce Kippen, Lords of the Frontier:

     […] 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.

• French: préface
• German: Vorwort, Vorrede
• Italian: prefazione, proemio, introduzione
• Portuguese: prefácio
• Russian: предисло́вие
• Spanish: prefacio

• French: préface
• German: Präfation
• Italian: prefazio
• Spanish: prefacio

preface (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.

2. (transitive) To give a preface to.

   to preface a book

• French: préfacer
• Portuguese: prefaciar
• Russian: предваря́ть
• Spanish: introducir

• prefatory

preface (plural prefaces)

1. .