noun.
A beginning or introductory part, especially of a speech or treatise.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
The beginning of anything; specifically, the introductory part of a discourse, intended to prepare the audience for the main subject; the preface or proemial part of a composition.
noun.Synonyms Proem; Prelude, Preface, etc. See introduction.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
A beginning; an introduction; especially, the introductory part of a discourse or written composition, which prepares the audience for the main subject; the opening part of an oration.