preliminary

preliminary
preliminarily, adv.
/pri lim"euh ner'ee/, adj., n., pl. preliminaries.
adj.
1. preceding and leading up to the main part, matter, or business; introductory; preparatory: preliminary examinations.
n.
2. something preliminary, as an introductory or preparatory step, measure, contest, etc.: He passed the preliminary and went on to the finals.
3. a boxing match or other athletic contest that takes place before the main event on the program: A preliminary was fought at 8:00.
4. a preliminary examination, as of a candidate for an academic degree.
5. preliminaries, Print. See front matter.
[1650-60; < F prélimin(aire) and NL praelimin(aris) (see PRE-, LIMINAL) + -ARY]
Syn. 1. prefatory. PRELIMINARY, INTRODUCTORY both refer to that which comes before the principal subject of consideration. That which is PRELIMINARY is in the nature of preparation or of clearing away details which would encumber the main subject or problem; it often deals with arrangements and the like, which have to do only incidentally with the principal subject: preliminary negotiations. That which is INTRODUCTORY leads with natural, logical, or close connection directly into the main subject of consideration: introductory steps.
Ant. 1. concluding.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • preliminary — pre‧lim‧i‧na‧ry [prɪˈlɪmnri ǁ neri] adjective [only before a noun] coming before something more official, more important etc: • Preliminary estimates indicate that earnings will decline substantially from a year ago. • The group will set the… …   Financial and business terms

  • preliminary — pre·lim·i·nary /pri li mə ˌner ē/ adj: coming before and usu. serving as a temporary or intermediate step to something preliminary negotiations a preliminary payment plan preliminary n Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • preliminary — adj Preliminary, introductory, preparatory, prefatory describe something that serves to make ready the way for something else. Preliminary suggests reference to what must be done or made ready or acquired before entrance into some definitive… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Preliminary — may refer to:*Preliminary English Test *Preliminary examination *Preliminary finals *Preliminary hearing *Preliminary Multistate Bar Review *Preliminary Notice …   Wikipedia

  • Preliminary — Pre*lim i*na*ry, a. [Pref. pre + L. liminaris belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold, entrance: cf. F. pr[ e]liminaire. Cf. {Limit}.] Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory; as, preliminary… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • preliminary — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important. ► NOUN (pl. preliminaries) 1) a preliminary action or event. 2) a preliminary round in a sporting competition. ORIGIN Latin praeliminaris, from prae before +… …   English terms dictionary

  • preliminary — [prē lim′ə ner΄ē, prilim′ə ner΄ē] adj. [< Fr préliminaire or ModL praeliminaris < L prae (see PRE ) + L liminaris, of a threshold < limen, threshold (see LIMEN)] coming before or leading up to the main action, discussion, business, etc.; …   English World dictionary

  • preliminary — [adj] introductory, initial basic, elemental, elementary, exploratory, first, fundamental, inductive, initiatory, opening, pilot, preceding, precursory, prefatory, preparatory, preparing, primal, primary, prior, qualifying, readying, test, trial; …   New thesaurus

  • Preliminary — Pre*lim i*na*ry, n.; pl. {Preliminaries}. That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory; as, the preliminaries to a negotiation or duel; to take one s preliminaries the year before… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • preliminary — 1650s, from Fr. préliminaire or M.L. praeliminaris, from L. prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + limen (gen. liminis) threshold. A word that arose in reference to negotiations to end the Thirty Years War …   Etymology dictionary

  • preliminary — Introductory; initiatory; preceding; temporary and provisional; as preliminary examination, injunction, articles of peace, etc @ preliminary complaint In some states, a court without jurisdiction to hear a criminal case on its merits may issue a… …   Black's law dictionary

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