preface Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
    prolusion; foreword.
  2. verb furnish with a preface or introduction
    introduce; precede; premise.
    • She always precedes her lectures with a joke
    • He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution

WordNet

Pref"ace noun
Etymology
F. préface; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See Fate.
Definitions
  1. Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
    This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak.
    Heaven's high behest no preface needs. Milton.
  2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold. Syn. -- Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.
Pref"ace transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Prefaced ; present participle & verbal noun Prefacing
Definitions
  1. To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.
Pref"ace intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1913