Preface vs. Prologue

Prefacenoun

The beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book.

‘The book included a brief preface by a leading expert in the field.’;

Prologuenoun

A speech or section used as an introduction, especially to a play or novel.

Prefacenoun

An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.

Prologuenoun

One who delivers a prologue.

Prefacenoun

(Roman Catholic) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass.

Prologuenoun

(computing) A component of a computer program that prepares the computer to execute a routine.

Prefaceverb

(transitive) To introduce or make a comment before (the main point).

‘Let me preface this by saying that I don't know him that well.’;

Prologuenoun

(cycling) An individual time trial before a stage race, used to determine which rider wears the leader's jersey on the first stage.

Prefaceverb

(transitive) To give a preface to.

‘to preface a book’;

Prologueverb

To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.

Prefacenoun

Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.

‘This superficial taleIs but a preface of her worthy praise.’; ‘Heaven's high behest no preface needs.’;

Prologuenoun

The preface or introduction to a discourse, poem, or performance; as, the prologue of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales;" esp., a discourse or poem spoken before a dramatic performance

Prefacenoun

The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass.

Prologuenoun

One who delivers a prologue.

Prefaceverb

To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse.

Prologueverb

To introduce with a formal preface, or prologue.

Prefaceverb

To make a preface.

Prologuenoun

an introduction to a play

Prefacenoun

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

Prologue

A prologue or prolog (from Greek πρόλογος prólogos, from πρό pró, and λόγος lógos, ) is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Ancient Greek prólogos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance, more like the meaning of preface.

‘before’; ‘word’;

Prefaceverb

furnish with a preface or introduction;

‘She always precedes her lectures with a joke’; ‘He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution’;

Preface

A preface () or proem () is an introduction to a book or other literary work written by the work's author. An introductory essay written by a different person is a foreword and precedes an author's preface.