frontispiece
/ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpis/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.35 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
An illustration that is on the page before the title page of a book, a section of one, or a magazine.
noun
A façade, especially an ornamental one.
noun
A small ornamental pediment, especially at the top of a window or door.
Example Sentences
- "The viaduct was illustrated as a frontispiece to THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE of September, 1938. [In this case, the frontispiece is between the title page and the first article.]"
- "He carries on his frontispiece the indubitable marks of a money-dealer. His is one of those peculiar faces […]"
- "The novel was frontispieced with a portrait of the author."
Etymology
From Middle French frontispice, from Italian frontespizio or Medieval Latin frontispicium, from Latin frōns (“forehead”, oblique stem in front-) + -spic- (“to watch”, combining form of speciō) + -ium. Spelling altered due to folk etymology, influenced by piece.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: frontispice, frontespizio, frontispicium
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpis/
- British English: /ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpiːs/