Английский разговорный словарь (основной) - preliminary

prɪˈlɪmɪnərɪ 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). øøpreliminarily adv. [mod.L praeliminaris or F pr÷liminaire (as PRE-, L limen liminis threshold)]