See Also: Preliminary(medicine)
PRELIMINARY(law)
preliminary(dictionary)
Preliminary estimate(finance)
preliminary 1, adjective(dictionary)
Preliminary prospectus(finance)
PRELIMINARY HEARING(law)
Preliminary estimate(money)
Preliminary Prospectus(money)
Preliminary Expenses(money)

preliminary (iou)



preliminary noun, adjective, & adverb. M17.
[French preliminaire or mod. Latin praeliminaris, from prae PRE- + Latin limin-, limen threshold: see -ARY2.]
A. noun.
An action, measure, statement, etc., that precedes another to which it is introductory or preparatory. Usu. in pl., preparatory measures or arrangements. M17.
B. Magee We can never get to the discussion at all, because we can never complete the necessary preliminaries.
b. A preliminary examination. L19.
c. Sport. A contest used to select competitors for a more important event; a boxing-match put on before the main match. L19.
The preliminary matter of a book, preceding the main text (including title-page, contents, preface, etc.). Usu. in pl. Cf. PRELIM 2. L19.
b. adjective. Preceding and leading up to the main subject or business; introductory; preparatory. M17.
J. Rosenberg A preliminary study for a larger life-sized portrait. P. Gardiner During his first year he covered preliminary courses in a wide range of subjects.
C. adverb. Preliminarily. (Foll. by to.) M18.
E. J. Nichols A pitcher's straightening of his arms above his head preliminary to delivering the ball.
prelimi'narily adverb in a preliminary manner; as an introduction: M18.