præface

A form of preface — A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others' contributions; especially, such a discussion written by the work's own author.

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Meanings

nounpræface (plural præfaces)

plural præfaces

  1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of preface.

    1607, Edward Topsell, Historie of Four-Footed Beastes; quoted in:

    1 more example

    But for my part, which write the English story, I acknowledge that no man must looke for that at my hands, which I have not received from some other: for I would bee unwilling to write anything untrue, or uncertaine out of mine owne invention; and truth on every part is so deare unto mee, that I will not lie to bring any man in love and admiration with God and his works, for God needeth not the lies of men: To conlude, therefore, this Præface, as the beast is strange, and never seene in our countrey, so my eyesight cannot adde anything to the description; therefore harken unto that which I have observed out of other writers.

    1890, John Ashton, Curious Creatures in Zoology: with 130 Illustrations Throughout the Text, “The Rhinoceros” (2008 reprint; Ulwencreutz Media, Lulu.com; →ISBN)
verbpræface (third-person singular simple present præfaces, present participle præfacing, simple past and past participle præfaced)

present singular third person præfaces · participle present præfacing · participle past præfaced · past præfaced

  1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of preface.
Cite this entry
APA

præface. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pr%C3%A6face

MLA

“præface.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pr%C3%A6face. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “præface,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pr%C3%A6face.

Source: præface on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.