Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Preparatory \Pre*par"a*to*ry\, a. [L. praeparatorius: cf. F.
   pr['e]paratoire.]
   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.

Source : WordNet®

preparatory
     adj : preceding and preparing for something; "preparatory steps"
           [syn: {preparative}, {propaedeutic}]