1
- an introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope, or aims（书的）前言, 序。
1.1
- the introduction or preliminary part of a speech or event（讲话的）开场白; （事件的）序幕。
1.2
- Christian Church the introduction to the central part of the Eucharist, historically forming the first part of the canon or prayer of consecration. In the Western Church it comes between the Sursum Corda and the Sanctus and varies with the season.【基督教】序祷, 序诵（礼拜仪式核心部分的前奏, 历史上它是祝圣仪式中祭献经文或祈祷的第一部分; 在西方教会中, 序祷在颂“以心对天国”语之后、念《圣哉经》之前举行, 并随季节变化）。
with obj.
1- provide (a book) with a preface为（书）作序：
the book is prefaced by a quotation from William Faulkner.
该书以引用威廉·福克纳的话为序。
1.1
preface something with/by
introduce or begin (a speech or event) with or by doing something以…作为（讲话, 事件）的开场白（或序幕）; 用…引出（讲话, 事件）：it is important to preface the debate with a general comment.
用总括性的评论作辩论的开场白, 这是很重要的。
派生词
prefatory
/-fətərɪ/ adjective词源
late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin praefatia, alteration of Latin praefatio（n-） 'words spoken beforehand'， from the verb praefari, from prae 'before'+ fari 'speak'.