English
preliminary
Preliminary comes from New Latin praelīmināris, and goes back to līmen ‘threshold’.
- New Latinc. 1500–1900līmen‘threshold’
- New Latin, derivedc. 1500–1900praelīmināris
- Englishearliest quotation 1927preliminary
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- New Latinc. 1500–1900līmen‘threshold’
- New Latin, derivedc. 1500–1900praelīmināris
- Englishearliest quotation 1927preliminary
Earliest quotation: 1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex: “In the Chinese novels, often of a very literary…”
Linked words
through New Latin līmen ‘threshold’
eliminate, elimination, sublime, sublimation, subliminal, sublimate, liminal, 4 more
Today it means
adj In preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / New Latin līmen / preliminary