Etymology

preliminary

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Today it means: In preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory. Full definition →

New Latin praelīmināris ← French préliminaire
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The story

  1. French · borrowed frompréliminaire
  2. New Latin · borrowed frompraelīmināris
  3. English todaypreliminary

Borrowed from New Latin praelīmināris, formed from prae- (“before”) + līmen (“threshold”) + -āris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin līmināris (“of or belonging to a threshold”). Compare French préliminaire.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.