prefatialadj.
/priːˈfeɪʃl/, U.S. /priˈfeɪʃ(ə)l/ Now rare.
Of, relating to, or of the nature of a preface; prefatory.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > [adjective] > preliminary or introductory
preparatory1442
proemial1447
isagogicala1529
liminary1603
inducing1605
prelusive1605
preambling1608
prefatory?c1622
ushering1628
preambulary1630
inductory1632
introductive1638
prelusory1638
preambulous1646
preambular1647
preludial1647
preliminary1650
prefacive1651
preludious1651
introitory1652
prodromous1652
introductory1660
superliminary1675
exordiala1682
prodrome1682
prodromal1716
premisory1844
prefatiala1848
inductive1868
prolusory1868
inleading1889
prodromic1891
society > communication > book > matter of book > [adjective] > preface
prefatorial1757
prefatiala1848
society > leisure > the arts > literature > a written composition > parts of a written composition > [adjective] > prologue or introduction
proemial1447
preambulatory1608
prefatory1710
prolegomenous1749
prefatorial1757
prolegomenary1846
prefatiala1848
prooemiac1850
prolegomenal1859
a1848 J. R. Lowell in New Eng. Q. (1953) 26 396 You have been rightly informed that it [sc. a collected edition] would be introduced by some prefatial matter of my own.
1859 M. A. Richter Internal Relations 9 Before we conclude these prefacial lines we owe to the ladies a few words of apology.
1888 E. Lynn Linton Thro' Long Night iii. vii That tentative and prefatial way which means potentialities and the hereafter rather than actualities now.
1908 F. Edwards Bookseller's Catal. 38 Wants the titlepage and the following 3 leaves (all prefatial matter).
2003 D. Kazanjian & M. Nichanian in D. L. Eng & D. Kazanjian Loss 140 You are right when you bring into the discussion the ‘prefacial’ or ‘prefatory’ structure that was first experienced and even theorized by Hegel.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1848