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Dictionary Language resources

frontispiece

Syllabification: (fron·tis·piece)

Pronunciation: /ˈfrəntisˌpēs/

Translate frontispiece | into Spanish

Definition of frontispiece

noun

1an illustration facing the title page of a book.

2 Architecture the principal face of a building.
a decorated entrance.
a pediment over a door or window.

Origin:

late 16th century (frontispiece (sense 2)): from French frontispice or late Latin frontispicium 'facade', from Latin frons, front- 'front' + specere 'to look'. The change in the ending (early in the word's history) was by association with piece