n. [ L. prooemium, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; before + &unr_; way, course or strain of a song: cf. F. proème. ] Preface; introduction; preliminary observations; prelude. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thus much may serve by way of proem. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To preface. [ Obs. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. pro- + embryo. ] (Bot.) (a) The series of cells formed in the ovule of a flowering plant after fertilization, but before the formation of the embryo. (b) The primary growth from the spore in certain cryptogamous plants; as, the proembryo, or protonema, of mosses. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Introductory; prefatory; preliminary. [ R. ] Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; to fall in before; &unr_; before + &unr_; in + &unr_; to fall. ] (Chron.) The addition of a day to the lunar calendar. [ R. ] See Metemptosis. [ 1913 Webster ]