preparatory

[ pri-par-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -pair-, prep-er-uh- ]

See synonyms for preparatory on Thesaurus.com

adjective

serving or designed to prepare: preparatory arrangements.
preliminary; introductory: preparatory remarks.

of or relating to training that prepares for more advanced education.

Idioms about preparatory

preparatory to, in advance of; before: The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.

Origin of preparatory

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word praeparātōrius.See prepare, -tory¹

Other words from preparatory

pre·par·a·to·ri·ly, adverb
non·pre·par·a·to·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use preparatory in a sentence

For the things which have arrived at existence, and which subsist, have been preparatorily contained in a number.
Plotinos: Complete Works, v. 3 | Plotinos (Plotinus)
The warrior maid wished once more to examine the important position, preparatorily to the Monday attack.
The Executioner's Knife | Eugne Sue
The King's Advocate pulled out a puce-coloured bandanna, and waved it abroad preparatorily to blowing his nose.
Romance | Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
To that end I read preparatorily, yesterday, what account I could find of it in all the botanical books in the house.
Proserpina, Volume 1 | John Ruskin
You will have it so soon as Elwig will have stripped the Gaul preparatorily to throwing him into her caldron.
The Casque's Lark | Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for preparatory

preparatory

/ (prɪˈpærətərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

serving to prepare
introductory or preliminary

occupied in preparation
preparatory to as a preparation to; before: a drink preparatory to eating

Derived forms of preparatory

preparatorily, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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