PREF'ACE, noun [Latin proefatio; proe, before, and for, fari, fatus, to speak.] Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay, intended to inform the hearer or reader of the main design, or in general, of whatever is necessary to the understanding of the discourse, book or essay; a poem; an introduction or series of preliminary remarks. PREF'ACE, verb transitive To introduce by preliminary remarks; as, to preface a book or discourse. The advocate prefaced his argument with a history of the case. 1. To face; to cover; a ludicrous sense. Not prefacing old rags with plush. PREF'ACE, verb intransitive To say something introductory.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI