Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Preparation
1.
The act of preparing or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or adaptation; a making ready;
as, the
preparation
of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation
of troops for a campaign.2.
The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness;
as, a nation in good
. preparation
for war3.
That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or measure.
I will show what
preparations
there were in nature for this dissolution. T. Burnet.
4.
That which is prepared, made, or compounded by a certain process or for a particular purpose; a combination. Specifically:
(a)
Any medicinal substance fitted for use. (b)
Anything treated for preservation or examination as a specimen. (c)
Something prepared for use in cookery. I wish the chemists had been more sparing who magnify their
preparations
. Sir T. Browne.
In the
preparations
of cookery, the most volatile parts of vegetables are destroyed. Arbuthnot.
5.
An army or fleet.
[Obs.]
Shak.
6.
(Mus.)
The holding over of a note from one chord into the next chord, where it forms a temporary discord, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See
Suspension
. 7.
Accomplishment; qualification.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Preparation
PREPARA'TION
,Noun.
1.
The act or operation of preparing or fitting for a particular purpose,use, service or condition; as the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign; the preparation of a nation for war; the preparation of men for future happiness. Preparation is intended to prevent evil or secure good.2.
Previous measures of adaptation. I will show what preparations there were in nature for this dissolution.
3.
Ceremonious introduction. [Unusual.]4.
That which is prepared, made or compounded for a particular purpose. I wish the chimists had been more sparing, who magnify their preparations.
5.
The state of being prepared or in readiness; as a nation in good preparation for attack or defense.6.
Accomplishment; qualification. [Not in use.]7.
In pharmacy, any medicinal substance fitted for the use of the patient.8.
In anatomy, the parts of animal bodies prepared and preserved for anatomical uses.Preparation of dissonances, in music, is their disposition in harmony in such a manner that by something congenial in what precedes, they may be rendered less harsh to the ear than they would be without such preparation.
Preparation of medicines, the process of fitting any substance for use in the art of healing.