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# prefatory

adjective (prefatory) — formal

«prefatory» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

(formal) Prefatory means coming at the beginning as an introduction, like a preface to a book or a short speech before the main one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#m1)

### In the lessons

It belongs to the stiff, formal voice of books, exams and official speeches: «prefatory remarks», «a prefatory note». Everyday English says «introductory» or «opening». It tells the reader that what follows is only a starter before the main part.

### Examples

- (formal) The author wrote a prefatory note explaining the book. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x1)
- (formal) After some prefatory remarks, the head teacher announced the winners. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x2)
- The prefatory chapter is short. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x3)
- (formal) Read the prefatory instructions before answering. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x4)
- Her prefatory words thanked the parents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x5)
- The report begins with a prefatory summary. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x6)
- (everyday) Before the main talk, he said a few opening words. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x7)
- (formal) The prefatory pages are numbered i, ii, iii. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/#x8)

### Note

Formal and rare. Pronounced PREF-a-tor-ee. Related noun: preface (PREF-iss). Synonyms: introductory, opening, preliminary.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «prefatory» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefatory/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prefatory» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prefatory.html) on Mova free.