serving or designed to prepare

preparatory arrangements.

preliminary; introductory

preparatory remarks.

of or pertaining to training that prepares for more advanced education. ?

preparatory to

in advance of; before

The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.

adjective

auxiliary , supplementary

adjective

before , elementary , in advance of , in anticipation of , inductive , opening , precautionary , prefatory , preliminary , prelusive , prep , preparative , previous , primary , prior to , introductory , prolegomenous , antecedent , braced , en garde , poised , prefatorial , prepared , propaedeutic , ready