frontispiece
noun
fron·tis·piece
ˈfrən-tə-ˌspēs 
1
a
: the principal front of a building
b
: a decorated pediment over a portico or window
2
: an illustration preceding and usually facing the title page of a book or magazine
Examples of frontispiece in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Only an engraving of Equiano’s likeness printed in the frontispiece of The Interesting Narrative remains.
—
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
The state was ultimately made for (and of) the subjects, rather than the subjects for the state: the original frontispiece of Leviathan shows a mighty king constructed out of thousands of tiny men.
—John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014
The frontispiece from the autobiography and a few dresses are shown in the exhibition.
—Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
The frontispiece illustration was part of a four-image set that Wyeth, the father of the painter Andrew Wyeth, contributed for a 1939 edition of the book.
—Matt Stevens, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Gustave Doré's depiction of Don Quixote amid his fantasies of chivalric romance, the frontispiece to the 1863 Paris Hachette edition.
—Ilan Stavans, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023
After all, even Martin Droeshout’s frontispiece portrait for the First Folio shows a face that looks, to some eyes, like a mask.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
Its 745 glossy pages of text are adorned with scores of images—portraits, photographs, maps and frontispieces, each illustrating the myriad books, authors, artists, architects and historical events discussed in its 32 chapters.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 31 Mar. 2023
The gold sequin A-line coat, or a white lean sequin tank dress with a glitzy tweed frontispiece that puffs at the hip into a cackle of tulle, would look incredible on Margot Robbie, say, who starred in multiple nominee Babylon.
—Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 27 Jan. 2023
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Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 May 2025
The state was ultimately made for (and of) the subjects, rather than the subjects for the state: the original frontispiece of Leviathan shows a mighty king constructed out of thousands of tiny men.
—John Micklethwait, Foreign Affairs, 29 May 2014
The frontispiece from the autobiography and a few dresses are shown in the exhibition.
—Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
The frontispiece illustration was part of a four-image set that Wyeth, the father of the painter Andrew Wyeth, contributed for a 1939 edition of the book.
—Matt Stevens, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Gustave Doré's depiction of Don Quixote amid his fantasies of chivalric romance, the frontispiece to the 1863 Paris Hachette edition.
—Ilan Stavans, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023
After all, even Martin Droeshout’s frontispiece portrait for the First Folio shows a face that looks, to some eyes, like a mask.
—Michael Dirda, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
Its 745 glossy pages of text are adorned with scores of images—portraits, photographs, maps and frontispieces, each illustrating the myriad books, authors, artists, architects and historical events discussed in its 32 chapters.
—Barton Swaim, WSJ, 31 Mar. 2023
The gold sequin A-line coat, or a white lean sequin tank dress with a glitzy tweed frontispiece that puffs at the hip into a cackle of tulle, would look incredible on Margot Robbie, say, who starred in multiple nominee Babylon.
—Rachel Tashjian, Harper's BAZAAR, 27 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Frontispiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frontispiece. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
frontispiece
noun
fron·tis·piece
ˈfrənt-ə-ˌspēs
: an illustration facing the title page of a book
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