Main Entry:

¹pre·lim·i·nary

Pronunciation:

\pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies

Etymology:

French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold

Date:

1656

: something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as a: a preliminary scholastic examination bplural British : front matter c: a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race) d: a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)