Wiktionary

preamble

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English preamble, from Old French preambule (French préambule), from Medieval Latin praeambulum, from praeambulō (“to walk before”).

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɹiːˌambəl/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈpriˌæmb(ə)l/
  • Hyphenation: pre‧am‧ble

Noun

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preamble (plural preambles)

  1. A short preliminary statement or remark, especially an explanatory introduction to a formal document or statute.
    Synonyms: foreword, preface, prologue; see also Thesaurus:foreword
    Antonyms: afterword, conclusion, epilogue, last word, postamble; see also Thesaurus:afterword
    • 1960 January, M. D. Greville, “Scottish Railways in 1860”, in Railway Magazine, page 53:
      There was, however, one proposal which, had it reached fruition, might have had far-reaching effects. This was for the amalgamation of the Caledonian, the Edinburgh & Glasgow, and the Scottish Central Railways, for which a Bill was promoted, but rejected by the Parliamentary Committee on the grounds that the preamble was not proved.
    • 2023 November 1, Robert Drysdale, “Leven is nearly back on track...”, in RAIL, number 995, page 58:
      The consultation preamble explains: "The planned timetable will be introduced in 2025 once we have completed the necessary steps required to ensure that we have enough resources to do so.
  2. (computing, networking) A syncword.
  3. A precursor.
    High winds are often a preamble to a winter storm.
    • a. 1603, Francis Bacon, Discourse in the Praise of Queen Elizabeth:
      And lest any man should think her intent was to unnestle ill neighbours, and not to aid good neighbours, or that she was readier to restore what was invaded by others than to render what was in her own hands; see if the time provided not a new occasion afterwards, when through their own division, without the intermise of strangers, her forces were again sought and required; she forsook them not, prevailed so far as to be possessed of the castle of Edinburgh, the principal strength of that kingdom, with peace, incontinently, without cunctations or cavillations, the preambles of a wavering faith, she rendered with all honour and security; and his person to safe and faithful hands; and so ever after during his minority continued his principal guardian and protector.

Translations

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See also

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Verb

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preamble (third-person singular simple present preambles, present participle preambling, simple past and past participle preambled)

  1. (intransitive) To speak or write a preamble; to provide a preliminary statement or set of remarks.
    • 1867, Simeon Thayer, Edwin Martin Stone, The Invasion of Canada in 1775: Including the Journal of Captain Simeon Chaper, pages 312–313:
      But these things being beside my main design, I will desist from preambling and come to the materials I have collected towards a history of the Baptists in this province.
    • 1982, Frank Davey, Pomestaysyun, page 20:
      Once I was young and had so much more orientation and could talk with nervous intelligence about everything and with clarity and without as much literary preambling as this; in other words this is the story of an unself-confident man, at the same time of an egomaniac.
    • 2016, Amor Towles, A Gentleman in Moscow, →ISBN, page 473:
      So, what say we skip the preambling. Is it women? Money? Writer's block?

Further reading

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