preparation Look up preparation at Dictionary.com
1390, "act of preparing," from L. pręparationem (nom. pręparatio) "a making ready," from pręparatus, pp. of pręparare "prepare," from prę- "before" + parare "make ready" (see pare). Meaning "a substance especially prepared" is from 1646. Verb prepare is attested from 1466, from M.Fr. preparer, from L. pręparare; slang shortening prep is from 1927. Preparatory is first recorded 1413, from L.L. pręparatorius, from L. pręparatus. Applied from 1822 to junior schools in which pupils are "prepared" for a higher school.