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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Precipitous \Pre*cip"i*tous\, adjective [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 'Hush!''' --Mrs. Browning. -- {Pre*cip"i*tous*ly}, adverb -- {Pre*cip"i*tous*ness}, noun
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
precipitously
adverb
1: very suddenly and to a great degree; "conditions that precipitously increase the birthrate"; "prices rose sharply" [syn: {sharply}]
2: abruptly; in a precipitous manner; "the mountains rose precipitously from the shore"
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |