different between preliminary vs forerunner

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

English

Etymology

From Middle English forrenner, foreriner. Calque of Latin praecursor (“one who runs before, a forerunner”). Equivalent to fore- +? runner and/or forerun +? -er.

Noun

forerunner (plural forerunners)

1. A runner at the front or ahead.
2. (sports) By extension, a non-competitor who leads out the competitors on to the circuit, or who runs/rides the course prior to competitor trials, usually testing or checking the way.
3. A precursor or harbinger, a warning ahead.
4. A forebear, an ancestor, a predecessor.

   Bakelite is a forerunner of today's plastics.

5. (philately) A postage stamp used in the time before a region or area issues stamps of its own.

Translations

References

• Middle English Dictionary