preliminary
[pri-lim-uh-ner-ee]
- preceding and leading up to the main part, matter, or business; introductory; preparatory: preliminary examinations.
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- something preliminary, as an introductory or preparatory step, measure, contest, etc.: He passed the preliminary and went on to the finals.
- a boxing match or other athletic contest that takes place before the main event on the program: A preliminary was fought at 8:00.
- a preliminary examination, as of a candidate for an academic degree.
- preliminaries, Printing. front matter.
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Origin of preliminary
Synonyms
See more synonyms for preliminary on Thesaurus.com1. 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.
Antonyms
1. concluding.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for preliminary
Contemporary Examples
I testified merely eight feet from this monster at a preliminary hearing.
Preliminary results performed by Italian authorities “have not detected any manufacturing defect,” she added.
These preliminary results give us hope that the project will succeed in the coming years.
He also is the editor of the journal, which seems to publish a lot of interesting if preliminary work.
Data from 107 galaxies out of the preliminary sample is freely available to the astronomical community for study.
Historical Examples
The time expended in these preliminary lessons will be well spent.
Flying MachinesW.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
To return from this preliminary digression to the examinations.
As a preliminary to acquiring it is he to be shut out from the society of his fellows?
Shelley, Godwin and Their CircleH. N. Brailsford
The first of these preliminary processes is that which is done by the sliver-lapper.
The Fabric of CivilizationAnonymous
The same end may be attained without any preliminary process.
The Captain of the Pole-Star and Other TalesArthur Conan Doyle
preliminary
- (usually prenominal) occurring before or in preparation; introductory
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- a preliminary event or occurrence
- an eliminating contest held before the main competition
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Word Origin
C17: from New Latin praelīmināris, from Latin prae before + līmen threshold
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for preliminary
adj.
1660s, from French préliminaire and directly from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, from Latin prae- "before" (see pre-) + limen (genitive liminis) "threshold" (see limit (n.)). A word that arose in reference to negotiations to end the Thirty Years' War. Earliest attested form in English is preliminaries (n.), 1650s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper