1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or height.
She and her horse had been precipitated to the pebbled region of the river.
W. Irving. 2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly
or too soon; as, precipitate a journey, or a conflict.
Back to his sight precipitates her steps.
Glover.
If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs, and prove dangerous.
Bacon. 3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates
camphor when in solution with alcohol.
The light vapor of the preceding evening had been precipitated by the cold.
W. Irving. Precipitate
(Pre*cip"i*tate), v. i.
1. To dash or fall headlong. [R.]
So many fathom down precipitating.
Shak. 2. To hasten without preparation. [R.]
3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See Precipitate, n.
Precipitately
(Pre*cip"i*tate*ly) adv. In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily; rashly. Swift.
Precipitation
(Pre*cip`i*ta"tion) n. [L. praecipitatio: cf. F. précipitation.]
1. The act of precipitating, or the state of being precipitated, or thrown headlong.
In peril of precipitation
From off rock Tarpeian.
Shak. 2. A falling, flowing, or rushing downward with violence and rapidity.
The hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water, returning . . . towards the sea.
Woodward. 3. Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; impetuosity. "The precipitation of inexperience." Rambler.
4. (Chem.) The act or process of precipitating from a solution.
Precipitator
(Pre*cip"i*ta`tor) n. [L. praecipitator an overthrower.] One who precipitates, or urges on
with vehemence or rashness. Hammond.
Precipitious
(Prec`i*pi"tious) a. Precipitous. [Obs.] — Prec`i*pi"tious*ly, adv. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Precipitous
(Pre*cip"i*tous) a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF. precipiteux. See Precipice.]
1. Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain.
2. Headlong; as, precipitous fall.
3. Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous
&lsquoHush!'" Mrs. Browning.
— Pre*cip"i*tous*ly, adv. — Pre*cip"i*tous*ness, n.
