pre-, prae-

1. To make it possible for someone to know or to become familiar with something or a person in advance or beforehand: Before her job interview, Jill reacquainted herself with many of the company's policies.
2. Etymology: from Latin pre-, "before, before hand" + accognitare "to make known."

1. A previous knowledge of something or of someone: During rehearsals for the upcoming theatre production, Jason’s preacquaintence with the play helped him to interpret the main character sympathetically.
2. Etymology: from Middle English aqueyntance, "make known" from ad-, "before" + "cognoscere, "to know well."

The period of child development just prior to the teen years, typically between the ages of 10 - 12, a figure which may vary between the genders: Some parents say that the period of preadolescence, also known as preteens, is a difficult time when bringing up their offspring.

A person usually between the ages of 10 to 12, but not yet a teenager: The school auditorium was filled with preadolescents, who were all excited and noisy.

Relating to the period of life before an individual starts to develop into an adult: Pamela has two preadolescent boys who are ten-year-old twins.

Max is more preadolescent than his older sister and two brothers.

1. A reference to that which immediately precedes death: The colonel reconciled with his estranged son in the preagonal hours prior to the colonel's departure from life.
2. Descriptive of something which occurs or exists immediately before the agony of death: The family gathered around the dying patriarch's bed in the preagonal hours in advance of his demise.

Death "agony" is an old term for the period just before someone dies which was thought to be a time of extreme suffering.

Referring to a time in the past when people did not have the systems of producing food products for others: In anthropology, the pre-agricultural period was the time before a society of people had developed the raising of crops as a means of subsistence to sell to stores.

1. An introductory statement; preface or introduction: The preamble in Karl's book expressed what was being included in his history book.
2. A preliminary or introductory fact or circumstance: Frank's childhood in the slums was a preamble to his life of crime.
3. When capitalized, a Preamble is the introductory statement of the U.S. Constitution: This Preamble sets forth the general principles of American government and begins with the words, "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union ... " , therefore a section at the beginning of a speech, a report, or a formal document that establishes what follows.
4. Etymology: from Latin praeambulus, "going in front"; from Latin pre- + ambulare "to walk".

A reference to a short preliminary statement or remark, especially an explanatory introduction to a formal document or statute: The university president made very brief preambular comments just before introducing the guest speaker.

Pertaining to an introductory statement: At the awards ceremony, the guest exclaimed about the brevity of the preambulary remarks.

To walk or to go before another person or to figuratively precede someone: Watson smiled at the pedestrian who strided past him, commenting that she was perambulating faster than he was.

1. A statement, written or verbal, that introduces a topic or explains the purpose of such a communication: The author spent a great deal of time and care composing the perambulation to the first volume of his autobiography.
2. The act of proceeding in front of someone when out for a walk or other outdoor activity: On their morning perambulation, Teresa and her dog ambled one behind the other so as not to disrupt and get in the way of others who were out as well.

Referring to something which precedes or goes before; preliminary: The storm clouds on the horizon were the perambulatory sign that a tornado might be advancing.

1. A reference to a preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document that serves to explain its purpose: The politician limited his comments to the more preambulous resolutions regarding the recently signed joint agreement among nations.
2. Concerning an introductory occurrence or fact; pertaining to a preliminary: The overture to the opera, a preambulous piece of music, created the mood for the rest of the performance.

An electronic circuit or device that detects and strengthens weak signals, as from a radio receiver, for subsequent, more powerful increasing stages: A preamplifier is part of the electronic circuit in a radio or a television, designed to reinforce very inadequate electrical waves for better transmission.