| PREAMBLE | A preliminary or introductory statement (8) |
| PREFACE | What is something preliminary or introductory (7) |
| PRIMER | A prayer book for the laity; or, an elementary reading-book or introductory textbook, a preparatory cosmetic base for the face, a rudimentary introduction, an undercoat or other characteristically "fi |
| PREAMBLES | Preliminary or preparatory statements (9) |
| FOREWORD | Introductory statement to a book (8) |
| SKETCHED | Did a preliminary draft (of a drawing or painting) (8) |
| LEADUPTO | Act as a preliminary for a unionist party statement finally being accepted by Varadkar |
| TRIALRUN | A preliminary trip given to a new vehicle or vessel to test its performance (5,3) |
| ESTIMATE | A preliminary statement on the probable cost of an undertaking (8) |
| ROUGHING | Ill-treatment of a preliminary sketch (8) |
| ROADTEST | Into traditional main course, introduce fruit without a preliminary trial |
| DRAFTING | Writing a preliminary version |
| PROOF | A test or trial; a standard strength of alcoholic spirits; factual evidence; or, a preliminary impression of a page for review by a copy-editor (5) |
| DISMISSAL | Vicious introductory statement to girl possibly brought up in termination of contract (9) |
| CARTOON | From the Italian for "thick paper", a preliminary sketch/modello of a fresco or tapestry; or, a comic drawing (7) |
| DRAFT | A preliminary outline of a book, speech, etc (5) |
| ATFIRSTINSTANCE | During a preliminary court hearing (2,5,8) |
| DRESSREHEARSAL | A preliminary to a dramatic event? (5,9) |
| AMOK | Charlie leaves a preliminary exam in a frenzy |
| SCREED | A drinking session once a preliminary to getting completely plastered (6) |
