preamble

preamble
[priːˈamb(ə)l, ˈpriː-]
noun
  1. a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction
    开场白;导言
    he could tell that what she said was by way of a preamble.
    他听得出她是在作一个开场白。
    [mass noun]I gave him the bad news without preamble.
    我径直把坏消息告诉他。
    ■(Law)the introductory part of a statute or deed, stating its purpose, aims, and justification
    (律)(法规,契约的)序言,导言,序文
派生
preambular
adjective
  1. (正式).)
语源
  1. late Middle English: from Old French preambule, from medieval Latin praeambulum, from late Latin praeambulus 'going before'
英语宝典
考试词汇表