prefaces

英 [ˈprefəsɪz]

美 [ˈprefəsɪz]

n. (书的)前言，序言
v. 为…写序言; 以…为开端; 作…的开场白
preface的第三人称单数和复数

柯林斯词典

（书的）序言，前言，绪论
Aprefaceis an introduction at the beginning of a book, which explains what the book is about or why it was written.
VERB 以…为开端；以…作为开场白
If youprefacean action or speechwithsomething else, you do or say this other thing first.
1. I will preface what I am going to say with a few lines from Shakespeare...
  进入正题之前，我先引用莎士比亚的几句诗作为开场白。
2. The president prefaced his remarks by saying he has supported unemployment benefits all along.
  总统在发表讲话前说他一直以来都支持发放失业津贴。