frontispiece

views updated Jun 27 2018

fron·tis·piece / ˈfrəntisˌpēs/ • n. 1. an illustration facing the title page of a book.2. Archit. the principal face of a building. ∎ a decorated entrance. ∎ a pediment over a door or window.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

frontispiece

views updated May 18 2018

frontispiece principal face of a building XVI; pediment; †front page of a book; illustration facing the title-page XVII. — F. frontispice or late L. frontispicium examination of the forehead, countenance, façade, f. L. frōns, front- FRONT + -spicium (cf. AUSPICE); early assim. in sp. to piece.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

frontispiece

views updated May 29 2018

frontispiece.
1. Principal front or façade of a building.

2. Elaborate entrance, centrepiece, or gateway embellishing the centre of a main façade.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL