Lexic.us

Definition of Preliminary

1. Adjective. Denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding. "A preliminary investigation"

2. Noun. A minor match preceding the main event.

3. Noun. Something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows. "Drinks were the overture to dinner"

Definition of Preliminary

1. a. 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.

2. n. 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.

Definition of Preliminary

1. Adjective. in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory ¹

2. Noun. A preparation for a main matter; an introduction ¹

3. Noun. Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists ¹

4. Noun. A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Preliminary

1. [n -RIES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Preliminary

preliberal preliberation prelicensing prelife prelight prelighted prelighting prelights prelim preliminaries

preliminarily preliminarily enjoin preliminarily enjoined preliminarily enjoining preliminarily enjoins preliminary (current term) preliminary exam preliminary examination preliminary injunction preliminary injunctions

preliminary prospectus preliminatory prelimit prelimited prelimiting prelimits prelims prelingual prelingually prelinguistic

Literary usage of Preliminary

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. American Book Prices Current (1917)
"(broken; lacking first title and preliminary matter, and Bible. ... (rebacked, title-page in facsimile, lacking TI preliminary leaves and last 4 of the New ..."

2. The Library of Literary Criticism of English and American Authors by Charles Wells Moulton (1905)
"MACKINTOSH, Sm JAMES, 1830, Second preliminary Dissertation, ... FIRST preliminary DISSERTATION 1815-21 I have just read Dugald Stewart's "preliminary ..."

3. Confessions of an English Opium-eater: And Suspiria de Profundis by Thomas De Quincey (1850)
"THESE preliminary confessions, or introductory narrative of the youthful adventures which laid the foundation of the writer's habit of opium eating in after ..."

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