Prior to or preparing for the main matter, action, or business; introductory or prefatory, Introductory; previous; preceding the main discourse or business; prefatory, denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding, noun_ a minor match preceding the main event, A preparation for a main matter; an introduction, That which precedes the main discourse, work, design, or business; something introductory or preparatory