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Beginning vs Preparatory - What's the difference?

beginning | preparatory | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between beginning and preparatory

is that beginning is of or relating to the first portion of some extended thing while preparatory is of or pertaining to preparation, having the purpose of making something or someone ready, preparative.

As a noun beginning

is the act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.

As a verb beginning

is present participle of lang=en.

beginning

English

Alternative forms

* begynnynge (obsolete)

Noun

  • (uncountable) The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.
  • That which is begun; a rudiment or element.
  • That which begins or originates something; the first cause; origin; source.
  • The initial portion of some extended thing.
    • The author describes the protagonist's youth in the beginning of the story
    The house you want is down at the beginning of the street

    Synonyms

    * (act of doing that which begins anything) commencing, start, starting * element, embryo, rudiment * (that which begins or originates something) origin, source, start, commencement * (initial portion of some extended thing) head, start

    Antonyms

    * (act of doing that which begins anything) conclusion, end

    Derived terms

    * a good beginning makes a good ending * beginning of day * in the beginning

    Verb

    (head)
  • * , chapter=7
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o'clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning ; and the naphtha flares made one's eyes ache, the men's voices grated harshly, and the girls' faces saddened one.}}

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (informal) Of or relating to the first portion of some extended thing.
    • in the beginning paragraph of the chapter
    in the beginning section of the course

    Synonyms

    * first * initial

    Statistics

    *

    preparatory

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • of or pertaining to preparation, having the purpose of making something or someone ready, preparative
    • I will conduct some preparatory research before choosing the new restaurant's location.

    Derived terms

    *preparatory school *preparatorily