pre·tri·al

[pree-trahy-uhl, -trahyl]
noun
1.
a proceeding held by a judge, arbitrator, etc., before a trial to simplify the issues of law and fact and stipulate certain matters between the parties, in order to expedite justice and curtail costs at the trial.
adjective
2.
of or pertaining to such a proceeding.
3.
done, occurring, etc., prior to a trial: pretrial publicity.

Origin:
1935–40; pre- + trial

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

pretrial
"preliminary hearing before a trial," 1938, Amer.Eng., from pre- + trial.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
00:10
Pretrial is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Example sentences
The general's lawyers raised the standard defense objections about pretrial
  publicity and inadmissible evidence.
Think an intense evidentiary hearing replete with expert witnesses on pretrial
  publicity.
Individual shareholders could not as easily bankrupt those filing lawsuits
  through excessive pretrial maneuvers.
It is mandatory that you attend the pretrial conference if one has been set in
  your case.
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