prefatoryとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Medieval Latin *praefator +‎ -ory (“agent”), from Medieval Latin prefatia (whence preface), for classical Latin praefatio (“a saying beforehand”) – see preface for details.^[1]

Note that this is borrowed from Latin, not derived in English from preface, as in occasional misspelling *prefecatory.

形容詞

prefatory (comparative more prefatory, superlative most prefatory)

1. Serving as a preface or prelude; introductory, preliminary. [from 1670s]
   • 1868 January 4 – June 6, [William] Wilkie Collins, “First Period. The Loss of the Diamond (1848). […]”, in The Moonstone. A Romance. […], volume I, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], published 1868, OCLC 225036627, chapter I, pages 13–14:

     We must begin by showing how the Diamond first fell into the hands of my uncle Herncastle, when he was serving in India fifty years since. This prefatory narrative I have already got by me in the form of an old family paper, which relates the necessary particulars on the authority of an eye-witness.

   • 1939 June, “Railway Literature: Bradshaw's Guide”, in Railway Magazine, page 465:

     The "5th Mo. (May) 1939" issue of Bradshaw's Railway Shipping, and Hotel Guide for Great Britain and Ireland appears in a cream cover printed in blue and gold, and a prefatory note explains that, as 1939 is being celebrated as the centenary year of Bradshaw, it is intended to adopt this livery from now until the September issue inclusive. For October, the centenary month, Bradshaw will be published in a gold cover printed in red and blue.

使用する際の注意点

Rather formal and academic – preliminary is less formal, while introductory is less formal still. A casual alternative is to use some form of start, as in “To start…” or “Let me start by saying…”, as opposed to “By way of prefatory remarks…”.

参照