Etimology
Partially a back-formation from preparation; and partially borrowed from Middle French preparer, from Classical Latin praeparāre (“make ready in advance”), from prae- (“pre-”) + parāre (“make ready”). Compare Middle English preparaten (“to prepare”).
verb
prepare (third-person singular simple present prepares, present participle preparing, simple past and past participle prepared)
(transitive) To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip.
(transitive) To make ready for eating or drinking; to cook.
(intransitive) To make oneself ready; to get ready, make preparation.
(transitive) To produce or make by combining elements; to synthesize, compound.
Examples
We prepared the spacecraft for takeoff.
that they may prepare a city for habitation
our souls, not yet prepared for upper light
We prepared a fish for dinner.
We prepared for a bumpy ride.
As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.
Tourists visited a memorial hall adorned by a slogan in the handwriting of Chiang Kai-shek, Taiwan's divisive former nationalist leader: "Stay alert and prepare for battle."
She prepared a meal from what was left in the cupboards.
Related words
synonyms
busk (obsolete), graith (obsolete), ready, yark (obsolete)
(To make oneself ready): get ready
related terms
preparation
preparatory
noun
prepare
(obsolete) preparation
Examples
Go levy men, and make prepare for war;