foreword

Etymology

Morphologically this is fore- plus word. It is a calque of German Vorwort, which is itself a calque of Latin praefatio ("preface"). It is cognate with German Low German Vörwoord ("foreword"), Dutch voorwoord ("foreword"), West Frisian foarwurd ("foreword"), Danish forord ("preface; proviso") and Swedish förord ("foreword"). Compare also Old English forword, foreword ("proviso; condition").