The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
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 — (adj.) early 15c., from L.L. praeparatorius, from L. praeparatus (see PREPARATION (Cf. preparation)). Earlier in same sense was preparative (late 14c.). Applied from 1822 to junior schools in which pupils are prepared for a higher school … Etymology 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
