rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: ambulare
Latin

ambulare

to walk, go about

5 / 6
A compact two-stage view of opening remarks followed by the main formal address: the same speaker first addresses a listener from a small introductory card resting above a closed presentation binder, then sets that card aside and begins speaking from the opened binder.
noun

preamble

PREE-am-bul/ˈpriːæmbl/

An introductory statement before a document, speech, or main action.

Etymology
preLatinbefore, in front of
+ambleLatinto walk

The underlying image is “walking before”: a preamble goes ahead of the main text. This became a preliminary statement, often explaining the purpose of the formal document that follows.

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