prefatory
Before the main
Prefatory means serving as an introduction or preface: a few prefatory remarks before we begin, The book's prefatory material includes acknowledgments and a note on sources.
The word describes something that comes before the main content, preparing the way for what follows.
Preliminary statement before content
- forewordIntroductory book section
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- proemIntroductory section of writing
exordium · overture · prelude · introit · front matter · epigraph · dedication · author's note
Gap or start
- initialName's opening letter
- inauguralFirst in office
- preparatoryDone before something else
- antecedentSomething that precedes
lead-in · preceding · prior · advance · early · first · elementary · foundational
Indicating what's ahead
- anticipatoryFeeling or showing expectation
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- heraldOfficial news announcer
- forerunnerOne that comes before
presage · portent · foreshadowing · adumbration · foretoken · omen · augury · premonitory
preamble
Preliminary statement before content
- forewordIntroductory book section
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- prologueIntroductory literary section
proem · exordium · overture · prelude · introit · front matter · epigraph · dedication · author's note · opening remarks
opening
Gap or start
- initialName's opening letter
- inauguralFirst in office
- preparatoryDone before something else
antecedent · lead-in · preceding · prior · advance · early · first · elementary · foundational · baseline
precursory
Indicating what's ahead
- anticipatoryFeeling or showing expectation
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- heraldOfficial news announcer
forerunner · presage · portent · foreshadowing · adumbration · foretoken · omen · augury · premonitory · predictive
prefatoryconcluding
Bringing to an end
closing · final · terminal · ending · valedictory
introductory, preliminary, preface, prefect, prefecture, prefaces, prefaced, prefacing