English edit

Etymology edit

From French liminaire (introductory) from Latin līmināris, from līmen (doorstep, threshold; doorway, entrance; beginning, commencement) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns). Līmen is possibly derived from līmus (askew; sideways) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Heh₃l- (to bend, bow; elbow)) + -men (suffix forming neuter nouns of the third declension) (from Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ (suffix forming action nouns or result nouns from verbs)).

Adjective edit

liminary (comparative more liminary, superlative most liminary)

  1. (obsolete) introductory or preparatory

References edit

  • OED 2nd edition 1989