preliminaries

Variant of preliminary

preliminary definition

pre·limi·nary (prē lim′ə ner′ē, pri-)

adjective

coming before or leading up to the main action, discussion, business, etc.; introductory; prefatory; preparatory

Etymology: < Fr préliminaire or ModL praeliminaris < L prae- (see pre-) + L liminaris, of a threshold < limen, threshold (see limen)

noun pl. preliminaries -·nar′·ies

  1. a preliminary step, procedure, etc.
    1. a preliminary examination
    2. a contest or match before the main one

Etymology: Fr préliminaires, pl.

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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