Толковый словарь английского языка - introduction

noun Etymology: Middle English introduccioun act of introducing, from Anglo-French ~, from Latin ~-, introductio, from introducere Date: 14th century something that introduces: as, a. a part of a book or treatise preliminary to the main portion, a preliminary treatise or course of study, a short introductory musical passage, the act or process of introducing ; the state of being introduced, a putting in ; insertion, something introduced