Frontispiece
/ˈfrʌn.tɪ.spiːs/noun
An illustration facing a book’s title page, or an ornamental façade of a building.
Did you know?The word began as an architectural term for a building’s façade before becoming associated with the dramatic illustration facing a book’s title page.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spek-
“To observe, look at, or examine”
Classical Latin
Latin
specere
“To look at or observe”
Classical Latin
Latin
frons / frontis
“The forehead, brow, or front”
Late Latin
Latin
frontispicium
“A façade or front view of a building”
16th Century
French
frontispice
“A façade; later, an illustration facing a title page”
Late 16th Century
English
frontispiece
“An ornamental façade or illustration placed opposite a book’s title page”
Modern English
English
frontispiece
“A title-page-facing illustration or architectural front”