\In`tro*duc"tion\, n. [L. introductio: cf. F.
introduction. See {Introduce}.]
1. The act of introducing, or bringing to notice.
2. The act of formally making persons known to each other; a
   presentation or making known of one person to another by
   name; as, the introduction of one stranger to another.
3. That part of a book or discourse which introduces or leads
   the way to the main subject, or part; preliminary; matter;
   preface; proem; exordium.
4. A formal and elaborate preliminary treatise; specifically,
   a treatise introductory to other treatises, or to a course
   of study; a guide; as, an introduction to English
   literature.