pre·par·a·to·ry

[pri-par-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -pair-, prep-er-uh-]
adjective
1.
serving or designed to prepare: preparatory arrangements.
2.
preliminary; introductory: preparatory remarks.
3.
of or pertaining to training that prepares for more advanced education.
4.
preparatory to, in advance of; before: The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin praeparātōrius. See prepare, -tory1

pre·par·a·to·ri·ly, adverb
non·pre·par·a·to·ry, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To preparatory
00:10
Preparatory is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
preparatory (prɪˈpærətərɪ, -trɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  serving to prepare
2.  introductory or preliminary
3.  occupied in preparation
4.  preparatory to as a preparation to; before: a drink preparatory to eating
 
pre'paratorily
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Example sentences
He's attending a college preparatory school, he's on the honor roll.
More preparatory propaganda to get you ready to accept the food police telling you what you can and cannot eat.
In learning to write availably, a newspaper-office is a capital preparatory school.
Teaching a full course entirely on your own is the ultimate preparatory experience.
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