Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

preliminary

1. pre.lim.i.nary \pri-'lim-*-.ner-e-\ n [F pre`liminaires, pl., fr. ML 
   praeliminaris, adj., preliminary, f]r. L prae- pre- + limin-, limen 
   threshold - more at LIMB : something that precedes or is introductory or 
   preparatory : as  : a preliminary scholastic examination  : a minor match 
   preceding the main event 
2. preliminary aj : preceding the main discourse or business : INTRODUCTORY