Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.
Chaucer.
Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and
silver. -- Precious stones, gems; jewels.
Pre"cious*ly, adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely;
dearly. Also used ironically.
Pre"cious*ness, n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness;
dearness.
Prec"i*pe (?), n. (Law) See PrÊcipe, and Precept.
Prec"i*pice (?), n. [F. prÈcipice, L. praecipitium, fr. praeceps,
-cipitis, headlong; prae before + caput, capitis, the head. See Pre-,
and Chief.] 1. A sudden or headlong fall. [Obs.] Fuller.
2. A headlong steep; a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place;
an abrupt declivity; a cliff.
Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew.
Dryden.
Pre*cip"i*ent (?), a. [L. praecipiens, p. pr. See Precept.] Commanding;
directing.
Pre*cip`i*ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being
precipitable.
Pre*cip"i*ta*ble (?), a. Capable of being precipitated, or cast to the
bottom, as a substance in solution. See Precipitate, n. (Chem.)
{ Pre*cip"i*tance (?), Pre*cip"i*tan*cy (?), } n. [From Precipitant.]
The quality or state of being precipitant, or precipitate; headlong
hurry; excessive or rash haste in resolving, forming an opinion, or
executing a purpose; precipitation; as, the precipitancy of youth.
"Precipitance of judgment." I. Watts.
Pre*cip"i*tant (?), a. [L. praecipitans, -antis, p. pr. of
praecipitare: cf. F. prÈcipitant. See Precipitate.] 1. Falling or
rushing headlong; rushing swiftly, violently, or recklessly; moving
precipitately.
They leave their little lives Above the clouds, precipitant to
earth.
J. Philips.
Should he return, that troop so blithe and bold, Precipitant in
fear would wing their flight.
Pope.
2. Unexpectedly or foolishly brought on or hastened; rashly hurried;
hasty; sudden; reckless. Jer. Taylor. "Precipitant rebellion." Eikon
Basilike.
Pre*cip"i*tant, n. (Chem.) Any force or reagent which causes the
formation of a precipitate.
Pre*cip"i*tant*ly, adv. With rash or foolish haste; in headlong manner.
Milton.
Pre*cip"i*tant*ness, n. The quality or state of being precipitant;
precipitation.
Pre*cip"i*tate (?), a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of praecipitare to
precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See Precipice.] 1. Overhasty; rash;
as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.
2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the
time; as, a precipitate measure. "The rapidity of our too precipitate
course." Landor.