preliminary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Coming before the main part, in preparation for what follows.

   These are just the preliminary results of the study.

2. 2
   noun

   Something done first as preparation for a more important event.

   Training is a necessary preliminary to employment.

Borrowed from New Latin praelīmināris, formed from prae- (“before”) + līmen (“threshold”) + -āris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin līmināris (“of or belonging to a threshold”). Compare French préliminaire.

Topics