preface
/pˈɹefəs/PREH-fuhs
/pˈɹɛfəs/PREH-fuhs
Meaninga speaking before
Common meaning: an introduction to a book
- prebefore
- fato speak, sayLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 766 · scan
- cenoun ending: being so, the quality of
‘before’ + ‘to speak, say’ → preface
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Latin for ‘to speak, say’.
Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry for, p. 766 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry INFANT, p. 291 · dictionary scan
Roots
- for, fārī, fātum Latin “to speak, say”
Related words
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