ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Preface', Synonyms of 'Preface' & More on 'Preface'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

preface
    n 1: a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
         [syn: foreword, preface, prolusion]
    v 1: 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" [syn:
         precede, preface, premise, introduce]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Preface \Pref"ace\ (?; 48), n. [F. pr['e]face; 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.]
   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            This superficial tale
            Is but a preface of her worthy praise. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            Heaven's high behest no preface needs. --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of
      the Mass. --Addis & Arnold.
      [1913 Webster]

   Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion
      of the communion service, preceding the prayer of
      consecration, appointed for certain seasons.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude;
        prologue.
        [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Preface \Pref"ace\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Prefaced; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Prefacing.]
   To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to
   preface a book discourse.
   [1913 Webster]

4. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Preface \Pref"ace\, v. i.
   To make a preface. --Jer. Taylor.
   [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Preface:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

acknowledgments, anteriority, avant-propos, back, back matter, bastard title, begin, bibliography, bold front, brave face, brave front, breakthrough, catch line, catchword, colophon, contents, contents page, copyright page, dedication, display, endleaf, endpaper, endsheet, errata, exordium, facade, face, facet, facia, flyleaf, folio, fore, fore edge, forefront, foreground, forehand, foreland, forepart, forequarter, foreside, foreword, front, front elevation, front man, front matter, front page, front view, frontage, frontal, frontier, frontispiece, half-title page, head, heading, imprint, index, innovation, inscription, introduce, introduction, lap, lead, leaf, leap, makeup, obverse, open, overture, page, postulate, preamble, precede, prefix, prefixture, preliminaries, preliminary, prelude, premise, presupposition, priority, proem, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologize, prologue, proscenium, protasis, recto, reverso, running title, signature, subtitle, table of contents, tail, text, title, title page, trim size, type page, usher, verse, verso, voluntary, window dressing

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