/proh'pi dooh"tik, -dyooh"-/ , adj. Also, propaedeutical .
1. pertaining to or of the nature of preliminary instruction.
2. introductory to some art or science.
n.
3. a propaedeutic subject or study.
4. propaedeutics , ( used with a sing. v. ) the preliminary body of knowledge and rules necessary for the study of some art or science.
[ 1830-40; PRO- 2 + Gk paideutikós pertaining to teaching, equiv. to paideú ( ein ) to teach (deriv. of paîs child; cf. PEDO- 1 ) + -tikos -TIC ]