Wiktionary

preface

See also: Preface, préface, and préfacé

EnglishEdit

Alternative formsEdit

EtymologyEdit

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”).

PronunciationEdit

  • Audio (US)(file)
  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹɛfəs/, /ˈpɹɛfɪs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛfəs

NounEdit

preface (plural prefaces)

  1. The beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book.
    Synonyms: forespeech, foretalk, foreword, introduction, proem, prologue; see also Thesaurus:foreword
    The book included a brief preface by a leading expert in the field.
  2. An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
  3. (Roman Catholicism) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass.
    Synonym: prelude
  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.

TranslationsEdit

introduction before the main text

VerbEdit

preface (third-person singular simple present 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

TranslationsEdit

to introduce a text

Related termsEdit

See alsoEdit

Further readingEdit

RomanianEdit

EtymologyEdit

pre- +‎ face

VerbEdit

a preface (third-person singular present preface, past participle -ut) 3rd conj.

  1. to change
  2. (reflexive) to pretend

ConjugationEdit

    conjugation of preface (third conjugation, past participle in -ut)
infinitive a preface
gerund prefăcând
past participle prefăcut
number singular plural
person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person
indicative eu tu el/ea noi voi ei/ele
present prefac prefaci preface prefacem prefaceți prefac
imperfect prefăceam prefăceai prefăcea prefăceam prefăceați prefăceau
simple perfect prefăcui prefăcuși prefăcu prefăcurăm prefăcurăți prefăcură
pluperfect prefăcusem prefăcuseși prefăcuse prefăcuserăm prefăcuserăți prefăcuseră
subjunctive eu tu el/ea noi voi ei/ele
present să prefac să prefaci să prefacă să prefacem să prefaceți să prefacă
imperative — tu — — voi —
affirmative prefă prefaceți
negative nu preface nu prefaceți
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