foreword

Meaning

An introductory section preceding the main text of a book or other document; especially, one written by another person (not the author of the work thus introduced).

Opposite of

afterword, epilogue, endsay, conclusion, last word, postamble, foreword

Synonyms

preface

introduction

prologue

preamble

prolusion

opening

exordium

prefatory note

postscript

premise

proem

prolegomenon

opening statement

Translations

Vorwort

préface

Vorrede

Geleitwort

voorwoord

prefazione

avant-propos

prefácio

prefacio

voorbericht

prólogo

voorrede

Einleitung

Einführung

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfɔːwɜːd/

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch: voorwoord

Cognate with Western Frisian: foarwurd

Cognate with Danish: forord

Cognate with Swedish: förord

Cognate with Old English: forword

In summary

Morphologically fore- + word. Calque of German Vorwort, itself a calque of Latin praefatio (“preface”). Cognate with German Low German Vörwoord (“foreword”), Dutch voorwoord (“foreword”), West Frisian foarwurd (“foreword”), Danish forord (“preface; proviso”), Swedish förord (“foreword”). Compare also Old English forword, foreword (“proviso; condition”).