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   preliminary

   /prɪˈlɪmɪn(ə)ri/

   adjective

   • 1. preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important: "a preliminary draft" Similar preparatoryintroductoryinitialopeningprefatorypriorprecedinglead-ininitiatoryprecursoryearlyadvanceexploratorypilottesttrialexperimentalexplorativerare:precursiveprodromalprodromicpreludialprelusiveprelusoryOpposite concluding

   noun

   • 1. a preliminary action or event: "the bombardment was resumed as a preliminary to an infantry attack" Similar preludepreparationpreliminary/preparatory measurepreliminary actionoverturegroundworkfirst round
   • ▪ business or talk, especially of a formulaic or polite nature, taking place before an action or event: "she began speaking, without preliminaries" Similar introductionpreambleopeningopening/prefatory remarksformalities
   • ▪ a preliminary round in a sporting competition.
   • ▪ the prelims of a text.

   Word Origin mid 17th century: from modern Latin praeliminaris or French préliminaire, from Latin prae ‘before’ + limen, limin- ‘threshold’.

   Scrabble Points: 18

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • L

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   • I

     1

   • M

     3

   • I

     1

   • N

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   • A

     1

   • R

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   • Y

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