Prefatory vs Precatory - What's the difference?
prefatory | precatory |
Expressing a wish.
* 1827 , , The Journal of Sir Walter Scott , "December 1827":
(legal) Expressing a wish but not creating any legal obligation or duty.
As adjectives the difference between prefatory and precatory
is that prefatory is introductory, preliminary, serving as a prelude or preface while precatory is expressing a wish.prefatory
English
Alternative forms
* (obsolete)Usage notes
Rather formal and academic – preliminary is less formal, while introductory is less formal still. Casual alternative is to use some from of start, as in “To start…” or “Let me start by saying…”, as opposed to “By way of prefatory remarks…”.References
precatory
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- December 8. . . . A precatory letter from Gillies. I must do Molière for him, I suppose; but it is wonderful that knowing the situation I am in, the poor fellow presses so hard.
- precatory words in a will