preface
     n : a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book
         [syn: {foreword}, {prolusion}]
     v : furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes
         her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with
         a critical remark about the institution" [syn: {precede},
          {premise}, {introduce}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0