præamble

Noun

preamble (plural preambles)

1. A short preliminary statement or remark, especially an explanatory introduction to a formal document or statute.
   • 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...1960 January, M. D. Greville, “Scottish Railways in 1860”, in Railway Magazine, page 53

   Synonyms:

   foreword, preface, prologue, forespeech, foretale, foretalk

   Antonyms:

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

2. A syncword.
3. A precursor.
   • High winds are often a preamble to a winter storm.

See all 4 meanings of preamble