preface

pref·ace

 (prĕf′ĭs)

n.

1.

a. A preliminary statement or essay introducing a book that explains its scope, intention, or background and is usually written by the author.

b. An introductory section, as of a speech.

2. Something introductory; a preliminary: An informal brunch served as a preface to the three-day conference.

3. often Preface The words introducing the central part of the Eucharist in several Christian churches.

tr.v. pref·aced, pref·ac·ing, pref·ac·es

1. To introduce by or provide with a preliminary statement or essay.

2. To serve as an introduction to.

---

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praefātiō, praefātiōn-, from praefātus, past participle of praefārī, to say before : prae-, pre- + fārī, to speak; see bhā- in Indo-European roots.]

---

pref′ac·er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

preface

(ˈprɛfɪs)

n

1. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) a statement written as an introduction to a literary or other work, typically explaining its scope, intention, method, etc; foreword

2. anything introductory

3. (Roman Catholic Church) RC Church a prayer of thanksgiving and exhortation serving as an introduction to the canon of the Mass

vb (tr)

4. to furnish with a preface

5. to serve as a preface to

[C14: from Medieval Latin praefātia, from Latin praefātiō a saying beforehand, from praefārī to utter in advance, from prae before + fārī to say]

ˈprefacer n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pref•ace

(ˈprɛf ɪs)

n., v. -aced, -ac•ing. n.

1. a preliminary statement in a book by the author or editor, setting forth the book's purpose, acknowledging the assistance of others, etc.

2. an introductory part, as of a speech.

3. a preliminary or introductory event, circumstance, etc.

4. a prayer of thanksgiving, the introduction to the canon of the Mass, ending with the Sanctus.

v.t.

5. to provide with or introduce by a preface.

6. to serve as a preface to.

[1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French < Medieval Latin prēfātia, for Latin praefātiō=praefā(rī) to say beforehand (see pre-, fate) + -tiō -tion]

pref′ac•er, n.

syn: See introduction.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

preface

Past participle: prefaced
Gerund: prefacing

Imperative

preface

preface

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

preface

An introduction, often explaining the structure or purpose of what follows.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	preface - a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book foreword, prolusion text, textual matter - the words of something written; "there were more than a thousand words of text"; "they handed out the printed text of the mayor's speech"; "he wants to reconstruct the original text" introduction - the first section of a communication
Verb	1.	preface - furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution" premise, precede, introduce preamble - make a preliminary introduction, usually to a formal document prologise, prologize, prologuize - write or speak a prologue say, state, tell - express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

preface

noun

1. introduction, preliminary, prelude, preamble, foreword, prologue, proem, prolegomenon, exordium the preface to the English edition of the novel

verb

1. introduce, precede, open, begin, launch, lead up to, prefix I will preface what I am going to say with a few lines from Shakespeare.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

preface

noun

A short section of preliminary remarks:

foreword, induction, introduction, lead-in, overture, preamble, prelude, prolegomenon, prologue.

verb

To begin (something) with preliminary or prefatory material:

introduce, lead, precede, usher in.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

مُقَدِّمَه

předmluva

forordindledning

Einleitung

prefacio

alkusanatjohdanto

préfaceintroduction

formáli, inngangur

prefazionepreliminarefare una prefazioneintrodurre

priekšvārds

predhovor

predgovor

önsöz

前言序言

preface

[ˈprefɪs]

A. N → prólogo m, prefacio m

B. VT [+ book] → prologar
he prefaced this by saying that → a modo de prólogo a esto dijo que ..., introdujo este tema diciendo que ...
the book is prefaced by an essay → el libro tiene un ensayo a modo de prólogo
he has the irritating habit of prefacing his sentences with → tiene la molesta costumbre de comenzar las frases con ...

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

preface

[ˈprɛfəs]

n → préface f

vt → faire précéder
to preface sth with sth [+ speech, action] → faire précéder qch de qch
He prefaced his remark by saying that ... → En guise d'introduction, il a déclaré que ...
to be prefaced by sth → être précédé par qch

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

preface

n → Vorwort nt; (of speech) → Vorrede f

vt → einleiten; book → mit einem Vorwort versehen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

preface

[ˈprɛfɪs] n → prefazione f; (to speech) → introduzione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

preface

(ˈprefəs) noun

an introduction to a book etc. The preface explained how to use the dictionary. voorwoord مُقَدِّمَه предговор prefácio předmluva die Einleitung forord; indledning πρόλογοςprefacio eessõna پیشگفتار esipuhe préfaceמבוא प्राक्कथन, प्रस्तावना, भूमिका predgovor, uvod előszó prakata formáli, inngangur prefazione, premessa 序 서문 pratarmė priekšvārds kata pendahuluan voorwoordforordprzedmowa وړانديز prefácio prefaţă предисловие predhovor predgovor uvod förord คำนำ önsöz 序言，前言 передмова, вступна частина ديباچہ، مقدمہ lời mở đầu 序言，前言

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.