n. 1. a. An illustration that faces or immediately precedes the title page of a book, book section, or magazine. b. Archaic A title page. 2. Architecture a. A façade, especially an ornamental façade. b. A small ornamental pediment, as on top of a door or window. [Alteration (influenced by PIECE) of French frontispice, from Late Latin frontispicium, façade of a building : Latin frontis, genitive of frōns, forehead, front + Latin specere, to look at; see spek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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