preamble

Where does the word "preamble" come from? It comes from Latin ambulare, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Preamble’s story begins in Latin: ambulare meant “to walk.” To walk, combined with prae- (before). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as praeambulus. Walking before, from prae- and ambulare. From there it passed into Old French as preambule by medieval. Carried into French for an introductory statement. It reached English by 1300s as preamble. Settled as the English word for an introductory statement, especially in a formal document. Today, preamble means an introductory statement, especially at the start of a formal document.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ambulare "to walk", to walk, combined with prae- (before).
2. Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval praeambulus "walking before", walking before, from prae- and ambulare.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval preambule "an introductory statement", carried into French for an introductory statement.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s preamble "an introductory statement, especially in a formal document", settled as the English word for an introductory statement, especially in a formal document.