different between beforehand vs preliminary

English

Etymology

From Middle English biforhand, biforhond, beforehonde, bifornhand, equivalent to before +? hand. [13th century. After Old French avant main]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /b??f??hænd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /b??f??hænd/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /b??fo(?)?hænd/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /b??fo?hænd/
• Hyphenation: be?fore?hand

Adverb

beforehand (not comparable)

1. At an earlier or preceding time.

   Will it be possible to have access to the room beforehand so that we can set up chairs?

   I love playing tennis but I always get so nervous beforehand.

   Weeks beforehand, I had bought the tickets for the concert.

Synonyms

• in advance
• upfront

Antonyms

• afterwards

Translations

Derived terms

• beforehand in the world

Adjective

beforehand (comparative more beforehand, superlative most beforehand)

1. (obsolete) In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.
   • 1626, Francis Bacon, New Atlantis

     rich and much beforehand

2. (archaic, often followed by with) In a state of anticipation or preoccupation.
   • 1839, London Medical Gazette: Or, Journal of Practical Medicine

     […] the medical attendant ought to be rather beforehand with the symptoms of excitement, and to diminish the large quantity of wine before they appear.

Derived terms

• beforehandness

English

Alternative forms

• præliminary (archaic)

Etymology

From the French préliminaire or from Modern Latin prael?min?ris, formed from prae- (“before”) + l?men (“threshold”) + -?ris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin l?min?ris (“of or belonging to a threshold”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: pr?l?m??n?ri, IPA^(key): /p???l?m?n??i/
• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: pr?l?m??n?ri, IPA^(key): /p???l?m?n??i/

Adjective

preliminary (not comparable)

1. In preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory.

   Synonyms: initial, introductory, preparatory

   Antonyms: definitive, final

   • And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

preliminary (plural preliminaries)

1. A preparation for a main matter; an introduction.
2. Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists
3. A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing

Translations