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Webster 1913 Edition

Precipice

Prec′i-pice

,
Noun.
[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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Precipice

PREC'IPICE

,
Noun.
[L. proecipitium, from proeceps,headlong; proe, forward,and ceps, for caput, head. See Chief.]
1.
Strictly, a falling headlong; hence, a steep descent of land; a fall or descent of land, perpendicular or nearly so.
Where wealth, like fruit, on precipices grew.
2.
A steep descent, in general.
In the breaking of the waves there is ever a precipice.
Swift down the precipice of time it goes.

Definition 2024

precipice

precipice

See also: précipice

English

Alternative forms

Noun

precipice ‎(plural precipices)

  1. A very steep cliff.
    • 1719- Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
      I resolved to remove my tent from the place where it stood, which was just under the hanging precipice of the hill; and which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my tent...
  2. The brink of a dangerous situation.
    to stand on a precipice
  3. (obsolete) A headlong fall or descent.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

Middle French

Noun

precipice m (plural precipices)

  1. precipice (steep cliff)

Etymology

First attested in 1598, from Middle French précipice, from Latin *praecipitium ‎(“a steep place”), from praeceps ‎(“steep”), from prae + caput ‎(“head”). First meaning of the noun is recorded from 1632.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈprɛsɪpɪs/
  • IPA(key): /ˈpɹɛs.ə.pɪs/
  • Hyphenation: preci‧pice

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