Introduction
Definition: “The opening of a piece of writing. All compositions have three parts: beginning, middle and end. On this basis the introduction is the beginning of the beginning. Sometimes the term is applied to an explanatory essay at the beginning of a book.
Harmon, William, et al. A Handbook to Literature. 8th ed., Upper Saddle River, Prentice Hall, 2000.
Informal Definition
The beginning of a book which introduces the subject of the book and lays the groundwork for the rest of the book.
Example: “Introduction: The Hidden Side of Everything” –Freakonomics,
[Explains what the book will be focusing on and an example of how the book will examine scenarios which pertains to the subject of the book]
Etymology
"late 14c., "act of bringing into existence," from Old French introduccion (14c.) and directly from Latin introductionem (nominative introductio) "a leading in," noun of action from past-participle stem of introducere "to lead in, bring in; introduce; found, establish; bring forward (as an assertion)," from intro- "inward, to the inside" (see intro-) + ducere "to lead" (from PIE root *deuk- "to lead").
Meanings "initial instruction in a subject" and "an introductory statement" are from mid-15c.; meaning "elementary treatise on some subject" is from 1520s. The sense of "formal presentation of one person to another" is from 1711. "
Harper, Douglas. "introduction." Online Etymology Dictionary, 26 Aug. 2008,
www.etymonline.com/word/introduction#etymonline_v_12170. Accessed 29 Aug.
2022.