[pref.ace] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. ML prephatia, alter. of L praefation-, praefatio foreword, fr. praefari to say beforehand, fr. prae- pre- + fari to say--more at ban] (14c) 1 often cap: 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
[2]preface vb pref.aced ; pref.ac.ing vi (1619): to make introductory remarks ~ vt 1: to say or write as preface "a note prefaced to the manuscript"
2: precede, herald
3: to introduce by or begin with a preface
4: to stand in front of "a porch ~s the entrance"
5: to be a preliminary to -- pref.ac.er n