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Vinony

frontispiece

noun

  1. design elements surrounding a door
L321014 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpiːs/ / /ˈfɹɒn.tɪsˌpiːs/ / /ˈfɹʌn.tɪsˌpis/

noun

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.

  1. An illustration that is on the page before the title page of a book, a section of one, or a magazine.

    “The viaduct was illustrated as a frontispiece to THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE of September, 1938. [In this case, the frontispiece is between the title page and the first article.]”

  2. The title page of a book.
  3. A façade, especially an ornamental one.
  4. A small ornamental pediment, especially at the top of a window or door.
  5. A person's face.

    “He carries on his frontispiece the indubitable marks of a money-dealer. His is one of those peculiar faces […]”

verb

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.

  1. To supply with a frontispiece.

    “The novel was frontispieced with a portrait of the author.”