something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
a minor match preceding the main event
designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; "a preliminary investigation"
the act or process of drawing up plans or layouts for some project or enterprise
an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action; "the planning was more fun than the trip itself"
the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening; "his planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties"
the act of reconnoitring (especially to gain information about an enemy or potential enemy); "an exchange of fire occurred on a reconnaissance mission"
the act of submitting; usually surrendering power to another
(law) a contention presented by a lawyer to a judge or jury as part of the case he is arguing
an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter
a legal document summarizing an agreement between parties in a dispute to abide by the decision of an arbiter
something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition); "several of his submissions were rejected by publishers"; "what was the date of submission of your proposal?"
the condition of having submitted to control by someone or something else; "the union was brought into submission"; "his submission to the will of God"
a customary way of operation or behavior; "it is their practice to give annual raises"; "they changed their dietary pattern"
translating an idea into action; "a hard theory to put into practice"; "differences between theory and praxis of communism"
the exercise of a profession; "the practice of the law"; "I took over his practice when he retired"
knowledge of how something is usually done; "it is not the local practice to wear shorts to dinner"
avail oneself to; "apply a principle"; "practice a religion"; "use care when going down the stairs"; "use your common sense"; "practice non-violent resistance"
carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions; "practice law"
care by procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury
the management of someone or something; "the handling of prisoners"; "the treatment of water sewage"; "the right to equal treatment in the criminal justice system"
a manner of dealing with something artistically; "his treatment of space borrows from Italian architecture"
an artifact (or system of artifacts) that is instrumental in accomplishing some end
the quality of being instrumental for some purpose
a subsidiary organ of government created for a special purpose; "are the judicial instrumentalities of local governments adequate?"; "he studied the French instrumentalities for law enforcement"
the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
associated with or performed by armed services as contrasted with civilians; "military police"
characteristic of or associated with soldiers or the military; "military uniforms"
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare; "military law"
the act of starting a new operation or practice; "he opposed the inauguration of fluoridation"; "the startup of the new factory was delayed by strikes"
the ceremonial induction into a position; "the new president obviously enjoyed his inauguration"
as the agent of or on someone's part (usually expressed as "on behalf of" rather than "in behalf of"); "the guardian signed the contract on behalf of the minor child"; "this letter is written on behalf of my client";
for someone's benefit (usually expressed as `in behalf' rather than `on behalf' and usually with a possessive); "in your behalf"; "campaigning in his own behalf"; "spoke a good word in his friend's behalf"
the act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new; "she looked forward to her initiation as an adult"; "the foundation of a new scientific society"; "he regards the fork as a modern introduction"
a formal entry into an organization or position or office; "his initiation into the club"; "he was ordered to report for induction into the army"; "he gave a speech as part of his installation into the hall of fame"