▪ I. preface, n.
(ˈprɛfəs)
Also 4–5 prefas, 6–7 præface.
[a. F. préface (14–15th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), app. ad. med.L. prefātia (prephatia in Du Cange), substituted for L. præfātio a saying beforehand, etc.: see prefation.]
I. 1. In the Liturgies of Christian Churches: The introduction or prelude to the central part of the Eucharistic service (the consecration, etc.), comprising an exhortation to thanksgiving and an offering of praise and glory to God, ending with the Sanctus. [So F. préface de la messe.]
Proper Preface, a variation of the Common Preface, to be used at certain seasons, including a special part proper to and varying with the particular occasion.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 307 Gelasius..made þe comyn prefas þat is i-songe in chirches, ‘Vere dignum et justum est’. c 1450 Lay Folks Mass Bk. (MS. F.) 124 The prest wil sone, in that plase, Swythe begynne the preface, That begynneth with per omnia. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, Here shall folowe the proper preface. 1563 Foxe A. & M. 896/1 The preface of the Canon from vere dignum & inst[u]m est &c. to per Christum Dominum nostrum. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v. The preface to the mass anciently had, and still has, very different names in different churches. In the Gothic, or Gallican rite, it is called immolation; in the Mozarabic, illation; anciently among the French, it was called contestation; in the Roman church..it is called præfatio, preface. 1877 J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 353 The Ordinary Preface, to be said daily, except in Feasts and their Octaves having Proper Prefaces. 1880 Scudamore in Dict. Chr. Antiq. II. 1696/1 In every liturgy the eucharistic preface leads up to the angelic hymn. |
II. 2. The introduction to a literary work, usually containing some explanation of its subject, purpose, and scope, and of the method of treatment.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sec. Nun's T. 271 And of the myracle of thise corones tweye Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop i, Here begyneth the preface or prologue of the fyrste book. 1570 Dee Math. Præf. 2, I finde great occasion..to vse a certaine forewarnyng and Præface. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. iii. xxi. 209 One shall use the preface of a mile, to bring in a furlong of matter. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones Ded., I have run into a preface, while I professed to write a dedication. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) V. 63 The legislator..will add prefaces to his laws which will predispose our citizens to virtue. 1895 W. A. Copinger in Trans. Bibliogr. Soc. II. ii. 113 The first work with a preface is the Apuleius, and the first with marginal notes is the Aulus Gellius, both works printed in 1469 at Rome by Sweynheim and Pannartz. |
3. The introductory part of a speech; a prologue; an introduction or preliminary explanation.
| c 1530 L. Cox Rhet. (1899) 52 Demosthenes, in his oracyon agaynst Eschines, toke his preface out of a solempne petycyon. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, v. v. 11 Tush my good Lord, this superficiall tale, Is but a preface of her worthy praise. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 251 Adam, Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs: Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard. 1725 Pope Odyss. xiv. 517 With artful preface to his host he spoke. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) II. 249 Saying, by way of preface, that we know nothing of the truth about them. |
† b. A prefixed epithet or title. Obs. ? nonce-use.
| a 1625 Fletcher Love's Pilgr. v. v, I say he is not worthy The name of man, or any honest preface, That dares report or credit such a slander. |
c. A short paraphrase or practical comment upon a psalm before it was sung in church, formerly practised in Scotland: cf. preface v. 1 b.
| 1869 P. Landreth Life A. Thomson iv. 261 A model preface would be a far nobler help to congregational praise than any choir or organ. |
4. fig. Something preliminary or introductory.
| 1594 ? Greene Selimus Wks. (Grosart) XIV. 234 March to Natolia, there we will begin And make a preface to our massacres. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. v. (1701) 183/2 Mathematick is only a preface to divine things. 1746–7 Hervey Medit. (1818) 222 Wasted, they are a sad preface to never-ending confusion and anguish. 1903 Daily Chron. 16 Mar. 3/7, I pray your readers to remember that this enhanced price of sugar has had a preface. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as preface-maker, preface-monger, preface-writer; † preface voice, the particular tone of voice in which the preface (sense 1) is said or sung.
| 1485 Rutland Papers (Camden) 16 He shall chaunge his voice, and sing then in preface voice unto his words per Christum Dominum nostrum, which words shalbe said in vacua voce. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 4 Our Author is already dwindled to a Preface-monger. 1905 Athenæum 4 Feb. 139/3 Some occult process, which is the preface-writer's own secret. |
▪ II. preface, v.
(ˈprɛfəs)
[f. prec. n.]
1. intr. To make introductory or prefatory remarks; to write, speak, etc. a preface.
| 1619 W. Sclater Exp. 1 Thess. (1630) 326 To win credence to this mystery, hee prefaceth with mention of the word of God. 1653 Walton Angler i. 12, I will preface no longer, but proceed. 1720–1 Lett. fr. Mist's Jrnl. (1722) II. 190 Having prefaced thus much in the modern Way, I come now to apply. 1807 E. S. Barrett Rising Sun I. 154 He prefaces with an account of the upright character of the panegyrist. |
b. Sc. ‘To give a short practical paraphrase of those verses of the Psalms which are to be sung before prayer’ (Jamieson 1825). Also trans.
| 1727 P. Walker Remark. Passages 150 He had..a singular Gift of Prefacing, which was always practised in that Day. 1824 A. Thomson in Landreth Life iv. (1869) 227 This must have appeared strange to a congregation whose minister ‘prefaces’ the psalm for a full hour. 1869 P. Landreth Ibid. iv. 161 Those who have a recollection of what prefacing was..will not soon propose its restoration. 1897 Crockett Lad's Love xv, Mind to tell me the Psalm upon which he prefaces. |
2. trans. To write or say (something) as a preface; to state beforehand. Now rare or Obs.
| 1628 Prynne Brief Survay 65 That which our Author Prefaceth concerning Ember weekes..is..transcribed out of Kellams Manuall. 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. Pref. 1 It had..been requisite to Preface something to excuse the unexpected publishing of this new Treatise. 1709 Strype Ann. Ref. I. xlviii. 483 The author thought fit to preface a very apt quotation out of S. Augustin's Epistle to Januarius. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 449 ¶2 It is necessary to Preface, that she is the only Child of a decrepid Father. |
† 3. fig. To introduce, precede, herald. Obs.
| 1616 J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. viii. 36 Found they weare mingled sweete, sowr, pleasant, bitter, & praefaced ioie, but steepd in sadder licor. 1663 J. Spencer Prodigies (1665) 71 That all terrible evils are prefac'd or attended with some prodigious and amazing alterations in the Creation. 1692 E. Walker tr. Epictetus' Mor. ix, If thus you preface what you undertake. 1807 A. M. Porter Hungar. Bro. (ed. Warne) 40 When the name of Count Leopolstat prefaced his entrance. |
4. To furnish (a book, etc.) with a preface; to introduce or commence (a writing or speech) with a preface or introduction.
| 1691 T. H[ale] Acc. New Invent. 56 That Declaration..wherewith we Prefaced our very first Paper. 1736 Swift Let. to Lady Betty Germain 15 June, I must preface this letter with an honest declaration. 1853 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. xxi. 277 Many..who would have prefaced that rebuke with a long speech. |
5. fig. To place before or in front of; to front or face (with something).
| a 1658 Cleveland Gen. Poems (1677) 24, I love to wear Clothes that are flush, Not prefacing old Rags with Plush. 1762 Foote Orators i. Wks. 1799 I. 202 A smart house, prefaced with white rails. 1880 Venables tr. Berthet's Sergeant's Legacy 137 A striped..dress, prefaced by an ample apron. |
6. To precede or come before as an introduction.
| 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. iii, That a feat of skill with the cloth-yard might not ill preface my letter to the great earl. 1853 C. Brontë Villette xxx, A depressing..passage has prefaced every new page I have turned in life. |
Hence ˈprefacing vbl. n.
| 1641 ‘Smectymnuus’ Answ. §1 (1653) 1 A constitution of the Areopagi, that such as pleaded before them should pleade without prefacing and without Passion. 1892 M{supc}Crie Public Worship Presbyt. Scotl. 198 note, [He] identifies this calling on or exhorting of the congregation with prefacing. |