different between prefatory vs proemial

English

Alternative forms

• præfatory (obsolete)

Etymology

From Medieval Latin *praefator +? -ory (“agent”), from Medieval Latin prefatia (whence preface), for classical Latin praefatio (“a saying beforehand”) – see preface for details.

Note that this is borrowed from Latin, not derived in English from preface, as in occasional misspelling *prefecatory.

Adjective

prefatory (comparative more prefatory, superlative most prefatory)

1. Serving as a preface or prelude; introductory, preliminary. [from 1670s]

Usage notes

Rather formal and academic – preliminary is less formal, while introductory is less formal still. A casual alternative is to use some form of start, as in “To start…” or “Let me start by saying…”, as opposed to “By way of prefatory remarks…”.

Translations

References

• “prefatory”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

Anagrams

• foreparty

English

Adjective

proemial (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to a proem or proemium.