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preface
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
preface
I.noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
the introduction/preface/foreword to a book
▪ In the introduction to this book I referred to a conversation between myself and a young student.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ VERB
write
▪ Galileo had written a pious preface in which he ridiculed the Copernican theory as wild and fantastic and contrary to Holy Scripture.
▪ Colvin had known Burne-Jones, and was persuaded to write a preface for a London gallery show.
▪ After four years of anguish, Forster wrote a preface to it and a small firm, Wishart Booles, issued it.
▪ Salmon had at one point actually hinted that the great philosopher Henri Bergson might write a preface for the exhibition.
▪ At his request, I had written the preface, and that preface had involved me in a most disagreeable situation.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ Murray agreed to write the preface to Baker's book, as a favor to his old friend.
▪ This edition contains a new preface by the author.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ His extreme position caused an outcry, and some of the contributors to Le Livre Noir dissociated themselves from his preface.
▪ In his preface Green acknowledges that this is a book he hopes to update with contributions from the floor.
▪ In the preface, the editor of the catalogue makes it clear that only a representative selection of coins is listed.
▪ It says so in the preface.
▪ It was mentioned in the preface that a number of written questions were put to academics as part of this study.
▪ Nordenfalk starts his preface as follows.
▪ The first thing to note about the preface is that it needs to be read.
II.verb
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ Al-Hosni prefaced his speech with a phrase from the Koran.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ All have prefaced the discussion by lamenting the barrels' disappearance.
▪ Daniel prefaces his interpretation with a review of Nebuchadnezzar's prideful fall from grace and Beishazzar's own lack of humility.
▪ Each book is prefaced with simple parental guidelines explaining the skills each exercise aims to develop.
▪ I must preface my remarks about school performance by stating that school provision in general is extremely good in my borough of Bexley.
▪ In contrast to the prairie-like flatness of the structure, a grand gold and white awning prefaced the house.
▪ In their minds it had been prefaced with romantic dialogue and protestations of love.
▪ She prefaces her book with an attempt to sum up the whole hideous story.
▪ Therefore I shall preface a discussion of the pros and cons of reproductive techniques by a brief résumé of the underlying biology.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Preface

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.

Preface

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

Preface

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.

    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.

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

    Syn: Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue.

Related phrases:
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
preface

late 14c., from Old French preface "opening part of sung devotions" (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin prefatia, from Latin praefationem (nominative praefatio) "fore-speaking, introduction," in Medieval Latin "prologue," noun of action from past participle stem of praefari "to say beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + fari "speak" (see fame (n.)).

preface

1610s, from preface (n.). Related: Prefaced; prefacing.

Wiktionary
preface

n. 1 The beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book. 2 An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks. 3 (context Roman Catholic English) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To introduce or make a comment before (the main point). 2 (context transitive English) To give a preface to.

WordNet
preface

  1. n. a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book [syn: foreword, prolusion]

  2. v. 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, premise, introduce]

Wikipedia
Preface (band)

Preface is a French musical band established in 1986 with members Manu Katché on vocals and drums, Jean-Yves D'Angelo (keyboards and vocals) and Kamil Rustam (guitars and vocals). The band was signed to Phonogram and had an extended debut single Palace Hotel on Anya record label. They followed it up with a second single S'il Te Plait.

The band also collaborated on the soundtrack to the film Black Mic Mac 2.

In 1989, third single "Un an un jour une heure" but disbanded after three years of activity, else band members pursuing solo careers.

Preface (disambiguation)

Preface may refer to:

  • Preface, an introduction to a book or other literary work written by the work's author.
  • Preface (liturgy), portion of the Eucharistic Prayer that immediately precedes the Canon or central portion of the Eucharist
Preface

__NOTOC__ A preface or proem is an introduction to a book or other literary work written by the work's author. An introductory essay written by a different person is a foreword and precedes an author's preface. The preface often closes with acknowledgments of those who assisted in the literary work.

A preface generally covers the story of how the book came into being, or how the idea for the book was developed; this is often followed by thanks and acknowledgments to people who were helpful to the author during the time of writing.

A preface is usually signed (and the date and place of writing often follow the typeset signature); a foreword by another person is always signed. Information essential to the main text is generally placed in a set of explanatory notes, or perhaps in an "Introduction" that may be paginated with Arabic numerals, rather than in the preface. The term preface can also mean any preliminary or introductory statement. It is sometimes abbreviated pref.

Preface comes from the Latin, meaning either "spoken before" (prae and fatia) or "made before" (prae + factum). While the former source of the word could have preface meaning the same as prologue, the latter strongly implies an introduction written before the body of the book. With this meaning of stated intention, British publishing up to at least the middle of the twentieth century distinguished between preface and introduction.

Preface (liturgy)

In liturgical use the term preface is applied to that portion of the Eucharistic Prayer that immediately precedes the Canon or central portion of the Eucharist ( Mass or Divine Liturgy). The preface, which begins at the words, "It is very meet and just, right and salutary" (or a variation thereof) is ushered in, in all liturgies, with the Sursum Corda, "Lift up your hearts", and ends with the Sanctus, "Holy, Holy, Holy, etc."

In the Western liturgies, proper prefaces are appointed for particular occasions. In the various Eastern liturgies there is great variation. Among those who follow the Rite of Constantinople the audible portion of the preface does not change, but the silent prayer said by the priest will differ depending upon whether it is the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom or the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great. Among the Oriental Orthodox Churches the preface will take different forms, depending upon the liturgical rite and/or the particular feast day.

In the Roman Rite, the preface opens with the following:

Priest: Dominus vobiscum. People: Et cum spiritu tuo. Priest: Sursum corda. People: Habemus ad Dominum. Priest: Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. People: Dignum et iustum est.

The current English translation has:

Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit. Priest: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God People: It is right and just.

Usage examples of "preface".

Whether the power thus ascribed to Baron de Batz by his historians is real or imaginary it is not the purpose of this preface to investigate.

The preface is that General Buller sent word to General White that he proposed to attack upon the 17th, while the actual attack was delivered upon the 15th, so that the garrison was not prepared to make that demonstration which might have prevented the besiegers from sending important reinforcements to Botha, had he needed them.

A tall, lank-haired man, looking more like an undertaker than a divine of any denomination, read straight through, without a syllable of preface, the fifteenth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, and then, kneeling down, began a rambling, extemporaneous prayer, the main object of which seemed to be, to address the Deity by as many periphrastic adjurations as possible.

With an Introductory Preface and 2 Photogravure Illustrations to each Volume.

Through innumerable prefaces, postfaces, notes, biographies and monographs, university lectures and dissertations, Kafkology produces and sustains its own image of Kafka, to the point where the author whom readers know by the name Kafka is no longer Kafka but the Kafkologized Kafka.

William Ernest Henley Contents: Dedication Advertisement In Hospital Preface Enter Patient Waiting Interior Before Operation After Vigil Staff-Nurse: Old Style Lady Probationer Staff-Nurse: New Style Clinical Etching Casualty Ave, Caeser!

In the preface to his first volume, he enumerates and weighs twenty Italian biographers, who have professedly treated of the same subject.

I always read prefaces, and Martelli proves there that his verses have the same effect in Italian as our Alexandrine verses have in French.

Rolf Boldrewood Preface It is not so easy to write ballads descriptive of the bushland of Australia as on light consideration would appear.

PREFACE CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE CASANOVA AT DUX An Unpublished Chapter of History, By Arthur Symons I The Memoirs of Casanova, though they have enjoyed the popularity of a bad reputation, have never had justice done to them by serious students of literature, of life, and of history.

I feel like turning back and writing a Jamesian preface on the problems of a romancer turned chronicler.

Miller had so kindly prefaced, when both Jones and he, looking stedfastly at each other, showed at once the utmost tokens of surprize.

Allworthy, after a formal preface, acquainted him with the whole discovery which he had made concerning Jones, with his anger to Blifil, and with ever particular which hath been disclosed to the reader in the preceding chapters.

LORD SALISBURY, Guildhall, 1892 CONTENTS Preface Chapter I: The Theatre of War Chapter II: The Malakand Camps Chapter III: The Outbreak Chapter IV: The Attack on the Malakand Chapter V: The Relief of Chakdara Chapter VI: The Defence of Chakdara Chapter VII: The Gate of Swat Chapter VIII: The Advance Against the Mohmands Chapter IX: Reconnaissance Chapter X: The March to Nawagai Chapter XI: The Action of the Mamund Valley, 16th September Chapter XII: At Inayat Kila Chapter XIII: Nawagai Chapter XIV: Back to the Mamund Valley Chapter XV: The Work of the Cavalry Chapter XVI: Submission Chapter XVII: Military Observations Chapter XVIII: The Riddle of the Frontier Appendix THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED TO MAJOR-GENERAL SIR BINDON BLOOD, K.

However, I confess that he thinks he has imitated the French Alexandrines, and his preface made me explode with laughter.