preface. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.

preface

SYLLABICATION:	pref·ace
PRONUNCIATION:	prfs
NOUN:	1a. 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.
TRANSITIVE VERB:	Inflected forms: 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.
ETYMOLOGY:	Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praefti, praeftin-, from praeftus, past participle of praefr, to say before : prae-, pre- + fr, to speak; see bh-² in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:	prefac·er —NOUN


The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.