introduction (n.)

late 14c., "act of bringing into existence," from Old French introduccion (14c.) and directly from Latin introductionem (nominative introductio) "a leading in," noun of action from past-participle stem of introducere "to lead in, bring in; introduce; found, establish; bring forward (as an assertion)," from intro- "inward, to the inside" (see intro-) + ducere "to lead" (from PIE root *deuk- "to lead").

Meanings "initial instruction in a subject" and "an introductory statement" are from mid-15c.; meaning "elementary treatise on some subject" is from 1520s. The sense of "formal presentation of one person to another" is from 1711.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to introduction

intro (n.)

short for introduction, attested from 1923.

introduce (v.)

early 15c., "convey or bring (something) in or into," a back-formation from introduction or else from Latin introducere "to lead in, bring in," from intro- "inward, to the inside" (see intro-) + ducere "to lead" (from PIE root *deuk- "to lead").

Meaning "to bring forward, open to notice" (of a subject, etc.) is from 1550s. Sense of "bring into personal acquaintance, make known" (as of one person to another) is from 1650s. Related: Introduced; introducing.

See all related words (7) >

Trends of introduction

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

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presentation

late 14c., presentacioun, "act of presenting, ceremonious giving of a gift, prize, etc.," from Old French presentacion (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin praesentationem (nominative praesentatio) "a placing before," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin praesenta

debut

"first appearance in public or before society," 1751, from French début "first appearance," a figurative use from débuter "make the first stroke at billiards," also "to lead off at bowls" (a game akin to bowling), 16c., from but "mark, goal," from Old French but "end" (see butt (

entry

c. 1300, "act or fact of physically entering; place of entrance, means of entering a building; opportunity or right of entering; initiation or beginning of an action;" from Old French entree "entry, entrance" (12c.), noun use of fem. past participle of entrer "to enter" (see ente

preface

late 14c., "an introduction to the canon of the Mass," also "statement or statements introducing a discourse, book, or other...devotions" (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin prefatia, from Latin praefationem (nominative praefatio) "fore-speaking, introduction...

overture

The orchestral sense of "a movement serving as a prelude or introduction to an extended work" in English is recorded from...

seignior

As a general title for a Frenchman it dates from 1580s and probably is a re-introduction....

naphtha

In Middle English as napte (late 14c.), from Old French napte, but the modern word is a re-introduction....

institution

c. 1400, "action of establishing or founding (a system of government, a religious order, etc.)," from Old French institucion "foundation; thing established" (12c.), from Latin institutionem (nominative institutio) "a disposition, arrangement; instruction, education," noun of stat

address

early 14c., "to guide, aim, or direct," from Old French adrecier "go straight toward; straighten, set right; point, direct" (13c.), from Vulgar Latin *addirectiare "make straight" (source also of Spanish aderezar, Italian addirizzare), from ad "to" (see ad-) + *directiare "make s

transfusion

1570s, "action of pouring liquid from one vessel to another," from French transfusion and directly from Latin transfusionem (nominative transfusio) "a decanting, intermingling," noun of action from past-participle stem of transfundere "pour from one container to another," from tr

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updated on December 11, 2020

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Dictionary entries near introduction

intrinsic

intro-

intro

introduce

introducer

introduction

introductory

introit

introject

introjection

intron