a. Capable of being prepared. “Medicine preparable by art.” Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. préparation, L. praeparatio. See Prepare. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness; as, a nation in good preparation for war. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or measure. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will show what preparations there were in nature for this dissolution. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

I wish the chemists had been more sparing who magnify their preparations. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the preparations of cookery, the most volatile parts of vegetables are destroyed. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. An army or fleet. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Accomplishment; qualification. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. préparatif. ] Tending to prepare or make ready; having the power of preparing, qualifying, or fitting; preparatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laborious quest of knowledge preparative to this work. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. That which has the power of preparing, or previously fitting for a purpose; that which prepares. “A preparative unto sermons.” Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is done in the way of preparation. “Necessary preparatives for our voyage.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By way of preparation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praeparator. ] One who prepares beforehand, as subjects for dissection, specimens for preservation in collections, etc. Agassiz. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. praeparatorius: cf. F. préparatoire. ] Preparing the way for anything by previous measures of adaptation; antecedent and adapted to what follows; introductory; preparative; as, a preparatory school; a preparatory condition. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Preparation. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make all things ready; to put things in order; as, to prepare for a hostile invasion. “Bid them prepare for dinner.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make one's self ready; to get ready; to take the necessary previous measures; as, to prepare for death. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prepared p. pr. & vb. n. Preparing. ] [ F. préparer, L. praeparare; prae before + parare to make ready. See Pare. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To fit, adapt, or qualify for a particular purpose or condition; to make ready; to put into a state for use or application; as, to prepare ground for seed; to prepare a lesson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our souls, not yet prepared for upper light. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To procure as suitable or necessary; to get ready; to provide; as, to prepare ammunition and provisions for troops; to prepare ships for defence; to prepare an entertainment. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

That they may prepare a city for habitation. Ps. cvii. 36 [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To fit; adjust; adapt; qualify; equip; provide; form; make; make; ready. [ 1913 Webster ]