Propaedeutic

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Propaedeutic \Pro`p[ae]*deu"tic\, Propaedeutical
  \Pro`p[ae]*deu"tic*al\, a. [Gr. ? to teach beforehand; ? before
     + ? to bring up a child, to educate, teach, fr. ?, ?, a
     child.]
     Of, pertaining to, or conveying, preliminary instruction;
     introductory to any art or science; instructing beforehand.


     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  propaedeutic
       adj : preceding and preparing for something; "preparatory steps"
             [syn: {preparatory}, {preparative}]
       n : a course that provides and introduction to an art or science
           (or to more advanced study generally) [syn: {propaedeutics}]