preprandial

American  

[pree-pran-dee-uhl] / priˈpræn di əl /

adjective

1. before a meal, especially before dinner; anteprandial.

   a preprandial apéritif.

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preprandial British  

/ priːˈprændɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the period immediately before lunch or dinner

   enjoy a preprandial drink

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Etymology

Origin of preprandial

First recorded in 1815–25; pre- + prandial

Explanation

Anything preprandial happens before eating a meal. If you find yourself starving after school, you might have a preprandial snack to tide you over until dinner. Preprandial adds the "before" prefix, pre- to the Latin root prandium, "luncheon," or "a meal." It's not a very common adjective these days, and you're most likely to hear it used in a joking manner, or possibly in a doctor's instructions. A preprandial dose of medicine, for example, is supposed to be taken right before you eat. And you might be happy to see the preprandial bread basket a waiter brings before taking your order.

Example Sentences

Preprandial hors d'oeuvres—"horrors d'oeuvres," as an English hostess once dubbed those limp, gluey concoctions—have yielded to crisp vegetable sprigs and slices.

From Time Magazine Archive