adj., n., & adv.
adj. introductory, preparatory.
n. (pl. -ies) (usu. in pl.) 1 a preliminary action or arrangement (dispense with the preliminaries). 2 a preliminary trial or contest.
adv. (foll. by to) preparatory to; in advance of (was completed preliminary to the main event). preliminarily adv.
[ mod.L praeliminaris or F préliminaire (as PRE-, L limen liminis threshold) ]