The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preparative \Pre*par"a*tive\, a. [Cf. F. pr['e]paratif.]
   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]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preparative \Pre*par"a*tive\, 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]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

preparative
    adj 1: preceding and preparing for something; "preparatory
           steps" [syn: preparatory, preparative,
           propaedeutic]