Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. — Precious stones, gems; jewels.

Preciously
(Pre"cious*ly), adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically.

Preciousness
(Pre"cious*ness), n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.

Precipe
(Prec"i*pe) n. (Law) See Præcipe, and Precept.

Precipice
(Prec"i*pice) n. [F. précipice, 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.

Precipient
(Pre*cip"i*ent) a. [L. praecipiens, p. pr. See Precept.] Commanding; directing.

Precessional to Preconscious

Precessional
(Pre*ces"sion*al) a. Of or pertaining to pression; as, the precessional movement of the equinoxes.

Precessor
(Pre*ces"sor) n. [L. praecessor.] A predecessor. [Obs.] Fuller.

Precinct
(Pre"cinct) n. [LL. praecinctum, fr. L. praecingere, praecinctum, to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre-, and Cincture.]

1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; — often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state. "The precincts of light." Milton.

2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct.

3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [U.S.]

The parish, or precinct, shall proceed to a new choice.
Laws of Massachusetts.

Preciosity
(Pre`ci*os"i*ty) n. Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Precious
(Pre"cious) a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. précieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.]

1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.

She is more precious than rules.
Prov. iii. 15.

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid.
Hooker.

Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.
Chaucer.

Previous chapter Back Home Email this Search Discuss Bookmark Next chapter/page
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details.