Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “foreword” come from?

Foreword comes from English fore- combined with English word, which derives from Middle English word, from Proto-Germanic wurdą meaning "speech" or "utterance," from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning "to lead" or "bring forward."

foreword (English): An introductory section preceding the main text...

Definitions

  1. An introductory section preceding the main text...

Ancestry of “foreword”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanVorwortforeword; preposition; pronoun
2Latinpraefātiō—
3LatinpraeforI say, utter, mention beforehand or in advance; I...
4Latinprae-before; in front; in charge
5Proto-Italicprai-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →