preliminary
English
Alternative forms
- præliminary (archaic)
Etymology
From the French préliminaire or from Modern Latin praelīmināris, formed from prae- (“before”) + līmen (“threshold”) + -āris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin līmināris (“of or belonging to a threshold”).
Pronunciation
- (General American) enPR: prĭlĭmʹĭnĕri, IPA(key): /pɹɪˈlɪmɪnɛɹi/
- (Received Pronunciation) enPR: prĭlĭmʹĭnəri, IPA(key): /pɹɪˈlɪmɪnəɹi/
Adjective
preliminary (not comparable)
- In preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory.
- Synonyms: initial, introductory, preparatory
- Antonyms: definitive, final
- These are just the preliminary results.
- 1945 August 17, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], 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.
Derived terms
- nonpreliminary
- postpreliminary
- preliminarily
- preliminary considerations
- preliminary examination
- preliminary injunction
- preliminary results
- preliminary ruling
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
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