preamble
- preamble
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—preambled, adj.
/pree"am'beuhl, pree am"-/, n.
1. an introductory statement; preface; introduction.
2. the introductory part of a statute, deed, or the like, stating the reasons and intent of what follows.
3. a preliminary or introductory fact or circumstance: His childhood in the slums was a preamble to a life of crime.
4. (
cap.) the introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution, setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union . ..."
[1350-1400; ME < ML praeambulum, n. use of neut. of LL praeambulus walking before. See PRE-, AMBLE]
Syn. 1. opening, beginning; foreword, prologue, prelude.
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Universalium.
2010.
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preamble — pre·am·ble / prē ˌam bəl, prē am / n [Middle French preambule, from Medieval Latin preambulum, from Late Latin, neuter of preambulus walking in front of, from Latin prae + ambulare to walk]: an introductory statement (as to a contract); esp: the… … Law dictionary
Preamble — Pre am ble, v. t. & i. To make a preamble to; to preface; to serve as a preamble. [R.] Feltham. Milton. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Preamble — Pre am ble, n. [LL. praeambulum, from L. praeambulus walking before, fr. praeambulare to walk before; prae before + ambulare to walk: cf. F. pr[ e]ambule. See {Amble}.] A introductory portion; an introduction or preface, as to a book, document,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
preamble — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. preambule (13c.), from M.L. preambulum, neuter adjective used as a noun, properly preliminary, from L.L. praeambulus walking before, from L. prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + ambulare to walk (see AMBLE (Cf. amble)) … Etymology dictionary
preamble — *introduction, prologue, prelude, preface, foreword, exordium … New Dictionary of Synonyms
preamble — ► NOUN ▪ a preliminary statement; an introduction. ORIGIN Old French preambule, from Latin praeambulus going before … English terms dictionary
preamble — [prē′am΄bəl, prē am′bəl] n. [ME < MFr preambule < ML praeambulum, neut. of LL praeambulus, going before < L praeambulare, to precede < prae , before + ambulare, to go: see AMBLE] 1. an introduction, esp. one to a constitution, statute … English World dictionary
Preamble — A preamble is an introductory statement in a document that explains the document s purpose and underlying philosophy. When applied to the opening paragraphs of a statute, it may recite historical facts pertinent to the subject of the statute. It… … Wikipedia
preamble — UK [prɪˈæmb(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms preamble : singular preamble plural preamble formal 1) an introduction to a document, speech, or report explaining its purpose 2) something that happens or comes before something else The fighting … English dictionary
preamble — A prefatory statement most aptly illustrated by the fifty two words at the beginning of the Constitution of the United States. A clause in a statute, following the title and preceding the enacting clause, explanatory of the reasons for the… … Ballentine's law dictionary
preamble — pre|am|ble [priˈæmbəl US ˈpri:æmbəl] n [U and C] [Date: 1300 1400; : French; Origin: préambule, from Late Latin praeambulus walking in front ] formal a statement at the beginning of a book, document, or talk, explaining what it is about preamble… … Dictionary of contemporary English
