Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Preliminary
Pre-lim′i-na-ry
,Adj.
[Pref.
pre
+ L. liminaris
belonging to a threshold, fr. limen
, liminis
, threshold, entrance: cf. F. préliminaire
. Cf. Limit
.] Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory;
as,
preliminary
observations to a discourse or book; preliminary
articles to a treaty; preliminary
measures; preliminary
examinations.
Syn. – Introductory; preparatory; prefatory; proemial; previous; prior; precedent; antecedent.
Pre-lim′i-na-ry
,Noun.
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 entering college.
Syn. – Introduction; preface; prelude.
Webster 1828 Edition
Preliminary
PRELIM'INARY
,Adj.
Introductory; previous; proemial; that precedes the main discourse or business; as preliminary observations to a discourse or book; preliminary articles to a treaty; preliminary measures.
PRELIM'INARY
,Noun.
Definition 2024
preliminary
preliminary
English
Alternative forms
- præliminary (archaic)
Adjective
preliminary (not comparable)
- in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory
- These are just the preliminary results.
- 1945 May, George Orwell, chapter 1, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473:
- And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
- preliminary considerations
- preliminary results
Translations
in preparation for the main matter
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Noun
preliminary (plural preliminaries)
- A preparation for a main matter; an introduction
- Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists
- A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing
Translations
any of a series of sports
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minor contest before major one
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