preambulation

noun

1. (obsolete)A walking or going before; precedence.
2. (obsolete)A preamble.

   “But to omitte these preambulations, and come to the purpose, I tell thee—gentle Reader—if thou wilt vouchsafe the ouerlooking of this comfortable recreation, with a mind to profit, thou maist reape benefit, and be greatly bettered by the reading of it.”

   “Explanations are usually very tedious, and so without any introduction or preambulation I will plunge right into the midst of this uncanny story I am about to tell.”