preparatory
adj.adj. done in order to get ready for something more important that will happen later.
adj. serving to prepare for a subsequent event or action; introductory in nature.
The team did some preparatory exercises before the big game.
The committee held several preparatory meetings to ensure the main conference would run smoothly next month.
Before the surgeon began the delicate procedure, the medical staff completed a series of preparatory checks to verify that all equipment was sterile and functioning correctly.
From Middle English preparatori, from Late Latin praeparatorius. By surface analysis, prepare + -atory.
Typically used attributively before a noun; often followed by the preposition 'to'.
preparatory of the exampreparatory to the examWhen used to indicate what something is preparing for, the adjective takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'of'.