▪ I. preview, n.
(ˈpriːvjuː)
[f. pre- A. 2 + view n.; in sense 2 after review n.]
1. Previous viewing; foresight, prevision. rare.
| 1855 Bailey Mystic 6 The preview clear of prophet-bard. |
2. a. A previous view, inspection, or survey. Also, a foretaste, a preliminary glimpse.
| 1882 F. Russell in Chicago Advance 13 Apr. 227 At the beginning of each quarter a pre-view of the lessons should be given to the Sabbath-schools. 1899 Lutheran (Philad.) 6 Apr. 321 The consecutive lessons..may furnish both review and preview as essential features. 1935 Sun (Baltimore) 4 Apr. 1/5 Voting,..held this week in Michigan, Illinois and Maryland, has left a somewhat mottled political picture as a ‘preview’ of the important Presidential contest which will take place next year. 1938 Ibid. 24 Jan. 6/3 His preview of the budget probabilities for the fiscal year now current. 1946 War Report (B.B.C.) 263 They were taking with them into captivity a preview of the wreckage of Hitler's Deutschland. 1956 W. H. Whyte Organization Man i. 10 The best place to get a preview of the direction the Social Ethic is likely to take in the future. 1959 New Statesman 31 Jan. 136/3 Mr Dene..was to be given a pre-view of army life on a special advance visit to Winchester Barracks. 1978 LaRosa & Tanenbaum Random Factor xii. 179 The morning of November 18 brought a preview of the winter to come. |
b. (Occas. prevue.) spec. A showing or presentation of films, books, exhibitions, etc., before they are available to the public. Also attrib.
| 1922 Opportunities in Motion Picture Industry (Photoplay Research Soc.) 76 Where the studio employs a number of directors usually all of them sit in on the ‘pre⁓views’ that are given a film before it is actually ready for the final release. 1928 L. North Parasites 84 He attended a preview of a picture made by a small independent group of players. 1931 Amer. Speech VII. 74 Why should the word trailer be used to apply to a prevue of a motion picture? 1936 W. de la Mare in J. Freeman's Lett. p. xvii, That dubious puff, the pre-view, was not as yet in fashion. 1940 Times (Weekly ed.) 7 Aug. 17/3 A pre-view and mannequin parade of women's sportswear, coats, and costumes was held in London on Thursday. 1955 Radio Times 22 Apr. 42/2 (heading) Sport. Today's results and weekend pre-view. 1958 Photoplay Oct. 15 The first studio preview of Stage Struck. 1961 G. Millerson Technique Television Production i. 15 Picture monitors. These pre⁓view screens give a continuous view of what the three or more studio cameras and other video sources are seeing. 1977 Rolling Stone 13 Jan. 22/5 They finally came to a preview theater to see the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ segment. |
▪ II. preview, v.
[f. pre- A. 1 + view v.]
1. (preˈview) trans. To view beforehand; to foresee; to behold or get a sight of previously; to look at or examine antecedently. rare.
| 1607 Marston What you will v. i. H iij b, Preuiew but not preuent No mortall can the miseries of life. 1632 Vicars æneid i. 24 That none preview, and so prevent our skill. 1839–52 Bailey Festus xiv. 164, I cast my spirit sight Into the orient future, to preview The features of thy lifelot. 1902 ‘R. Connor’ Sky Pilot xiv, Every act of importance had to be previewed from all possible points. |
2. (ˈpreview) a. trans. To show or present (a film, etc.) before its public presentation; to give a preview or foretaste of (something).
| 1928 L. North Parasites v. 66 We pre-view a picture every week. 1939 Sun (Baltimore) 26 Sept. 10/3 In some respects it promises to preview the World Series. 1950 Blesh & Janis They all played Ragtime i. 16 Such was the Negro's position in our society that it was inevitable that this rich new vein of music should be previewed for white America in whorehouses. 1951 Newsweek 27 Sept. 74/3 Euclid previewed a new line of vehicles which it is counting on to send its sales volume soaring. 1965 Observer 31 Jan. 23/5 The BBC did preview ‘Culloden’, but only on the same day that it was shown. 1966 Listener 15 Sept. 397/1 The first edition,..which previewed the Commonwealth Conference, merits only subdued congratulation. 1968 Radio Times 28 Nov. 33/1 William Douglas Home introduces his first television play—and previews his own edgy performance. 1977 New Yorker 6 June 108/1 His full-length opera ‘The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe’, was ‘previewed’ in Minneapolis. |
b. intr. Of a production, performance, etc.: to be previewed.
| 1978 Tucson Mag. Dec. 99/1 On the same afternoon, the TMA League's annual ‘Christmas Fair’ previews to members only. 1980 Times 11 June 9 Yet another massive stage project, now previewing at the Aldwych, where it officially opens on June 19. 1981 Times 26 Aug. 9/3 Two Gentlemen of Verona and Titus Andronicus, which start previewing tonight. |
Hence ˈpreviewer; ˈpreviewing ppl. a.
| 1970 Guardian 6 Aug. 8/2 The previewing critics. 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 25 Sept. 12/5 Some of the previewers yesterday were the photographer's grandmother, Mrs. Arthur S. King, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Blackey, [etc.]. 1976 National Observer (U.S.) 23 Oct. 22/1 The previewers all have a common goal: to latch on to the money and fame that can be made on the billion-dollar-a-year lecture circuit. |