Definition

1. Noun:
   • An illustration facing the title page of a book: A picture, photograph, or decorative design placed opposite the page where the book's title is printed.
   • An ornamental facade, especially of a building: The principal face or front of a building, often decorated.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Book Illustration):
  • The book's frontispiece was a beautiful engraving of the author.
  • He carefully studied the historical map that served as the frontispiece.
• Noun (Architectural Facade):
  • The cathedral's ornate frontispiece was added in the 18th century.
  • The architect designed an elaborate frontispiece for the new library building.

Advanced Usage

• "to serve as a frontispiece": To function as the facing illustration.
  • The portrait was commissioned to serve as the frontispiece for the biography.
• Historical/Figurative Use: Can refer to something that serves as an introductory or facing feature.
  • The poet considered the first stanza a frontispiece to the entire epic.

Variants and Related Words

• Frontispieced (adj., rare): Having a frontispiece.
  • The frontispieced volume was more valuable to collectors.

Synonyms

• Illustration (for the book sense): A picture or diagram that helps explain or decorate.
• Facade (for the architectural sense): The front of a building, especially one that is imposing or decorative.
• Front (general): The side or part of something that faces forward.

Related Phrases

• Frontispiece portrait: A portrait used as the frontispiece.
  • The frontispiece portrait showed the author in his later years.
• Engraved frontispiece: A frontispiece created by the engraving technique.
  • The book is famous for its finely detailed engraved frontispiece.

Noun

1. front illustration facing the title page of a book
2. an ornamental facade