Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PREF'ACE, n. [Fr. from L. præfatio; præ, before, and for, fari, fatus, to speak.]

Something spoken us 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 proem; an introduction or series of preliminary remarks. – Milton.