praefatio Latin · revision 34311

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la for}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''praefātiō''' ''f'' (genitive praefātiōnis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|praefor|-tiō|t1=to say beforehand]],^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) and that verb is a compound of [[m|la|prae-|t=before]] and [[m|la|for|t=to speak]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) De Vaan traces [[m|la|for]] to [[itc-pro|*fā-|t=to speak]] and [[ine-pro|*bheh2-|t=to speak]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's earliest source is Cicero,^(Köbler 2010) who in the Verrines asks what formula went with a gift: ''quae porro praefātiō tuae dōnātiōnis fuit?''^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) The sense is a set form of words said beforehand.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In religious and public language it was the formula spoken before a rite or act: Livy has the ''praefātiō sacrōrum'', Pliny the Elder that of a triumph, and Suetonius the old formula of the fetial priests.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Pliny also uses it of a phrase such as “by your leave” put before a rustic or foreign word, and Suetonius of words of clemency put before a harsh sentence.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) In law it was a preliminary negotiation before a contract.^(Georges 1913)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The sense of a [[m|en|preface]] to a speech or book appears in Pliny the Elder and later.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In the Church it named the preface of the Mass,^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Etymonline) and in Britain Theodore and Bede use it of the preface of a book.^(DMLBS) English ''preface'', first “an introduction to the canon of the Mass”, came from medieval Latin ''prefatia'', partly through Old French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the formula of a gift.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy has the ''praefātiō sacrōrum'', the formula before a rite.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of a preface and of a phrase like “by your leave”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English borrows ''preface'', partly from medieval Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An introductory statement, [[m|en|preamble]]; a set [[m|en|formula]] said before a rite or act.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # A prefatory phrase or title, such as one of honour.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

+ # The introductory part of a speech or book, a [[m|en|preface]], [[m|en|prologue]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(law)'' A preliminary [[m|en|negotiation]] before a contract.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+ # ''(Ecclesiastical Latin)'' The preface of the [[m|en|Mass]].^(Niermeyer 1976)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[praefatiuncula]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[praefor]]

+ * [[en|preface]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}