preface by〔with〕(v.+prep.)
以…为讲话的开端introduce in the stated way
▲preface sth by〔with〕 sth
She prefaced her remarks with a few words of welcome to the guest speaker.她先说了几句话作为开端,以表示欢迎演讲者。
He prefaced his words by a smile.他先微笑,尔后开始发言。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
A short documentary prefaced the featured movie.正片开始前放映了一部短纪录片。
Several pages of closely reasoned argument preface her account of the war.她那部关于战争的著述之前有几页论证严谨的序言。

［同义词］ n.  introduction v.  begin, introduce, precede
［词源］＜中古拉丁语prefatia(序言,引言)

Has your history book a preface?你的历史书有前言吗?
He has written a fine preface to the play.他为这个剧本写了一篇精彩的序言。

preface, forward, introduction
参见introduction条。