frontispiece

== English == === Alternative forms === frontispice (archaic) === 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. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpiːs/, /ˈfɹɒn.tɪsˌpiːs/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpis/, /ˈfɹɑn.tɪsˌpis/ === Noun === frontispiece (plural frontispieces) (publishing) An illustration that is on the page before the title page of a book, a section of one, or a magazine. Coordinate term: headpiece (archaic, publishing) The title page of a book. (architecture) A façade, especially an ornamental one. (architecture) A small ornamental pediment, especially at the top of a window or door. (slang, archaic, humorous) A person's face. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === frontispiece (third-person singular simple present frontispieces, present participle frontispiecing, simple past and past participle frontispieced) (transitive, rare) To supply with a frontispiece. ==== References ==== Michael Quinion (2004), “Frontispiece”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.