Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - preface

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin prephatia, alteration of Latin praefation-, praefatio foreword, from praefari to say beforehand, from prae- pre- + fari to say — more at ban  Date: 14th century  1. often capitalized a variable doxology beginning with the Sursum Corda and ending with the Sanctus in traditional eucharistic liturgies  2. the introductory remarks of a speaker or author  3. approach, preliminary  II. verb  (~d; prefacing)  Date: 1619  intransitive verb to make introductory remarks  transitive verb  1. to say or write as ~ a note ~d to the manuscript  2. precede, herald  3. to introduce by or begin with a ~  4. to stand in front of a porch ~s the entrance  5. to be a preliminary to  • ~r noun