Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - preliminary

 I. noun  (plural -naries)  Etymology: French preliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, ~, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold  Date: 1656 something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: as  a. a ~ scholastic examination  b. plural, British front matter  c. a ~ heat or trial (as of a race)  d. a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)  II. adjective  Date: circa 1667 coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else ~ studies ~ results  • preliminarily adverb