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Origin and history of prep

prep(n.)

1862, short for preparation. Prep school is attested from 1895, short for preparatory school. First record of prep in the college slang sense "student or graduate of a preparatory school, student taking a preparatory course of study" is by 1899 (also see preppie).

prep(v.)

slang shortening of prepare, 1908. Related: Prepped; prepping.

also from 1908

Entries linking to prep

preparation(n.)

late 14c., preparacioun, "act of preparing or making ready, preliminary act or operation, a previous setting in order," from Old French preparacion (13c.) and directly from Latin praeparationem (nominative praeparatio) "a making ready," noun of action from past participle stem of praeparare "prepare," from prae "before" (see pre-) + parare "make ready" (from PIE root *pere- (1) "to produce, procure"). Meaning "a substance especially prepared or manufactured" is from 1640s.

preparatory(adj.)

"serving to prepare the way for something to follow," early 15c., preparatori, from Late Latin praeparatorius, from Latin praeparatus, past participle of praeparare "make ready beforehand" (see prepare).

Earlier in same sense was preparative (c. 1400). The word was applied by 1822 in the United Kingdom to junior schools in which pupils are "prepared" for a higher school.

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prepare
mid-15c., "set in order or readiness for a particular end," a back formation from preparation and in part from Old French preparer (14c.), from Latin praeparare "to make ready beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + parare "to make ready" (from PIE root *pere- (1) "to produc
contretemps
contre-temps "motion out of time, unfortunate accident, bad times" (16c.), from contre, an occasional, obsolete variant of contra (prep..."against" (from Latin contra "against;" see contra (prep., adv.)) + tempus "time" (see temporal)....
upon
early 12c., from Old English uppan (prep.)....) + on (prep.); probably influenced by Scandinavian sources such as Old Norse upp a. On, Upon....
again
late Old English agan, from earlier ongean (prep.)...exchange for," as an adverb "in the opposite direction, back, to or toward a former place or position," from on "on" (see on (prep...
controversy
dispute," from controversus "turned in an opposite direction, disputed, turned against," from contra "against" (see contra (prep...
parboil
to boil thoroughly," from Medieval Latin perbullire "to boil thoroughly," from Latin per "through, thoroughly" (see per (prep...
contravene
contravenire "to come against, oppose," in Medieval Latin "to transgress, break (a law)," from Latin contra "against" (see contra (prep...
education
1530s, "child-rearing," also "the training of animals," from French education (14c.) and directly from Latin educationem (nominative educatio) "a rearing, training," noun of action from past-participle stem of educare (see educate). Originally of instruction in social codes and m
instruction
c. 1400, instruccioun, "action or process of teaching," from Old French instruccion (14c., Modern French instruction), from Latin instructionem (nominative instructio) "an array, arrangement," in Late Latin "teaching," from past participle stem of instruere "arrange, prepare, set
election
c. 1300, eleccioun, "act of choosing" someone to occupy a position, elevation to office" (whether by one person or a body of electors); also "the holding of a vote by a body of electors by established procedure; the time and place of such a vote," from Anglo-French eleccioun, Old

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