pre·am·ble

[pree-am-buhl, pree-am-]
noun
1.
an introductory statement; preface; introduction. opening, beginning; foreword, prologue, prelude. epilogue, appendix, conclusion, afterword, closing.
2.
the introductory part of a statute, deed, or the like, stating the reasons and intent of what follows.
3.
a preliminary or introductory fact or circumstance: His childhood in the slums was a preamble to a life of crime.
4.
( initial capital letter ) the introductory statement of the U.S. constitution, setting forth the general principles of American government and beginning with the words, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union. …”

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin praeambulum, noun use of neuter of Late Latin praeambulus walking before. See pre-, amble

pre·am·bled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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00:10
Preamble is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Collins
World English Dictionary
preamble (priːˈæmbəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  a preliminary or introductory statement, esp attached to a statute or constitution setting forth its purpose
2.  a preliminary or introductory conference, event, fact, etc
 
[C14: from Old French préambule, from Late Latin praeambulum walking before, from Latin prae- before + ambulāre to walk]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

preamble
late 14c., from O.Fr. preambule (13c.), from M.L. preambulum, neut. adj. used as a noun, properly "preliminary," from L.L. præambulus "walking before," from L. præ- "before" + ambulare "to walk" (see amble).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
This passage was quoted in the preamble to the 1968 Republican party platform.
It's minutiae in some ways, particularly because the phrase comes in the
  throat-clearing preamble.
Including the preamble, all signatures and all 27 amendments, it's 20 pages.
Lampros's introduction to the high school's academic standards proved a fitting
  preamble to a disastrous year.
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