Etymology dictionary. 2014.
Preparatory — Pre*par a*to*ry, a. [L. praeparatorius: cf. F. pr[ e]paratoire.] Preparing the way for anything by previous measures of adaptation; antecedent and adapted to what follows; introductory; preparative; as, a preparatory school; a preparatory… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
preparatory — [prē par′ə tôr΄ē, pripar′ə tôr΄ē; prep′ə rətôr΄ē] adj. [ME < ML praeparatorius] 1. that prepares or serves to prepare; preliminary; introductory ☆ 2. undergoing preparation, esp. for college entrance [a preparatory student] preparatory to in… … English World dictionary
preparatory — I adjective anticipatory, beginning, early, expectant, foundational, inaugural, inceptive, incipient, initial, initiative, initiatory, introductory, opening, precautionary, precedent, preceding, precursory, prefatory, preliminary, preludial,… … Law dictionary
preparatory — ► ADJECTIVE 1) serving as or carrying out preparation. 2) Brit. relating to education in a preparatory school … English terms dictionary
preparatory — *preliminary, introductory, prefatory Analogous words: fitting, preparing, qualifying, readying, conditioning (see PREPARE) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
preparatory — [adj] introductory, basic before, elementary, in advance of, in anticipation of, inductive, opening, precautionary, prefatory, preliminary, prelusive, prep*, preparative, previous, primary, prior to; concepts 546,585 Ant. auxiliary, supplementary … New thesaurus
preparatory to — IN PREPARATION FOR, before, prior to, preliminary to. → preparatory * * * preparatory to phrase before something else, as a preparation for it He was gathering up his belongings preparatory to leaving. Thesaurus: before a time or eventsynonym… … Useful english dictionary
preparatory — [[t]prɪpæ̱rətri, AM tɔːri[/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Preparatory actions are done before doing something else as a form of preparation or as an introduction. At least a year s preparatory work will be necessary before building can start.… … English dictionary
preparatory — pre|par|a|to|ry [prıˈpærətəri US to:ri] adj 1.) [only before noun] done in order to get ready for something ▪ preparatory talks to clear the way for a peace settlement ▪ preparatory drawings ▪ A lot of preparatory work still needs to be done. 2.) … Dictionary of contemporary English
preparatory — preparatorily, adv. /pri par euh tawr ee, tohr ee, pair , prep euhr euh /, adj. 1. serving or designed to prepare: preparatory arrangements. 2. preliminary; introductory: preparatory remarks. 3. of or pertaining to training that prepares for more … Universalium
