Hypertext Webster Gateway: "preliminary"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Preliminary \Pre*lim"i*na*ry\, a. [Pref. pre + L. liminaris
belonging to a threshold, fr. limen, liminis, threshold,
entrance: cf. F. pr['e]liminaire. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Preliminary \Pre*lim"i*na*ry\, n.; 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
preliminary
adj : designed to orient or acquaint with the a situation before
proceeding; "a preliminary investigation"
n 1: a minor match preceding the main event [syn: {prelim}]
2: something that serves as a preceding event or introduces
what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to
employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner" [syn: {overture},
{prelude}]
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