frontispiece
frontispiece Lexical Profile
frontispiece Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An decorative illustration or engraved panel facing the title page of a book.
"The first edition of the biography features an engraved portrait of the author as its frontispiece."
The principal facade of a building, or an ornamental pediment or bay surrounding a central entrance.
"Corinthian columns and a carved stone pediment formed the grand frontispiece of the neoclassical courthouse."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite ending in 'piece', the word originally had no etymological connection to a 'piece' of something; its spelling was altered through folk etymology from the earlier French 'frontispice'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 16th century from French 'frontispice', from Late Latin 'frontispicium' ('metoposcopy' or 'facade'), combining Latin 'frons' ('forehead, front') and 'specere' ('to look at'), later altered by association with the English word 'piece'.