Preparatory

a.

1.

Preparing the way for anything by previous measures of adaptation; antecedent and adapted to what follows; introductory; preparative; as, a preparatory school; a preparatory condition.

Adj.

1.

preparatory - preceding and preparing for something; "preparatory steps" Synonyms: preparative, propaedeutic

antecedent, anterior, basic, before, chief, elementary, essential, exordial, first, foremost, fundamental, headmost, in preparation for, inaugural, inductive, initiatory, introductory, leading, opening, precedent, preceding, precessional, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary, preludial, prelusive, preparative, prerequisite, prevenient, primary, prior, proemial, propaedeutic, provident, provisional, rudimentary