preamble

American  

[pree-am-buhl, pree-am-] / ˈpriˌæm bəl, priˈæm- /

noun

1. an introductory statement; preface; introduction.

   Synonyms:

   prelude, prologue, foreword, beginning, opening

   Antonyms:

   closing, afterword, conclusion, appendix, epilogue

2. the introductory part of a statute, deed, or the like, stating the reasons and intent of what follows.

3. a preliminary or introductory fact or circumstance.

   His childhood in the slums was a preamble to a life of crime.

4. (initial capital letter) the introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution, setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union. …”

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preamble British  

/ priːˈæmbəl /

noun

1. a preliminary or introductory statement, esp attached to a statute or constitution setting forth its purpose

2. a preliminary or introductory conference, event, fact, etc

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Other Word Forms

• preambled adjective

Etymology

Origin of preamble

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English preambel, preambile, from Middle French preambule, préamble from Medieval Latin praeambulum, noun use of neuter of Late Latin praeambulus “walking in front”; pre-, amble

Example Sentences

Under the rules of the Ethernet protocol—widely used in computer networks—each packet starts with a preamble, signaling data is on the way.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Faith over fear" said their manager Stephen Robinson in the preamble.

From BBC

Looking at it now, in a time of endless preamble and an on-stage banterfest that would test the patience of a saint, they moved at breakneck speed back then.

From BBC

After a lengthy preamble, in which Penelope talked about fronds, spores, roots, rhizomes, and the impressive knack ferns have for growing in the shade, she began to catalog the varieties.

From Literature

“Antisemitism is dangerous, antithetical to California values, and must not be tolerated in any California classroom, regardless of whether Jewish pupils are present in that classroom,” the preamble to the bill said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• preface