Where does “preliminal” come from?

preliminal (English) comes from English pre, from Latin prae, from Proto-Italic prai, from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

preliminal (English): Prior to the beginning of a process

Definitions

  1. Prior to the beginning of a process

Ancestry of “preliminal”, step by step

preliminal traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English pre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpreBefore; Precum, Cowper's fluid, pre-ejaculate; To...
2Latinpraebefore; in front; in front of
3Proto-Italicpraibefore; in front of
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English liminal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishliminalOf or pertaining to an entrance or threshold; Of...
2Latinliminalis
3Latinlīmenthreshold, doorstep, sill bottom-most part of a doorway
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós
preliminal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer