preterminal

/priˈtɜrmənl/
adjective
  1. Occurring or existing before the final stage of a process, especially before death or the end of something.
    • The patient was in a preterminal condition, but still able to speak with family.
    • Scientists studied the preterminal changes in the cells before the organism died.
    • The company's preterminal financial troubles were ignored by management until it was too late.
Antonyms
What does "preterminal" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean