practise — pre-Columbian (adj.)
the usual spelling outside American English of practice as a verb. It also is the form of the verb in the U.S.-produced "Century Dictionary" (1889). Related: Practised; practising.ETD practise.2
1540s, "one who acquires knowledge from actual practice;" a hybrid formed from practitian "practitioner" (c. 1500; see practician), with redundant ending on model of parishioner. Meaning "one engaged in the actual practice of an art or profession" is from 1550s. Johnson has as a secondary sense "One who uses any sly or dangerous arts" (compare practice (n.)). A general practitioner originally was "someone who practices both medicine and surgery."ETD practitioner (n.).2
public park and promenade in Madrid, 1640s, Spanish, from Latin pratum "meadow" (see prairie). Compare Prater, name of a large park in Vienna, German, from Italian prato "meadow." French preau "little meadow" (formerly praël), Italian pratello are from Vulgar Latin *pratellum, diminutive of pratum.ETD Prado (n.).2
word-forming element meaning "before," from Latin prae (adv.) "before," from PIE *prai-, *prei-, from root *per- (1) "forward," hence "in front of, before" (also see pre-). Reduced to pre- in Medieval Latin. According to OED the full form prae- in Modern English appears "usually only in words that are still regarded as Latin, ... or that are terms of classical antiquity ...."ETD prae-.2
in law, "a writ commanding something to be done or requiring a reason for its non-performance," c. 1500 (in Magna Carta in Anglo-Latin), from Latin praecipe, imperative of praecipere "to admonish, enjoin, take or seize beforehand," from the opening words of such a writ, praecipe quod reddat "enjoin (him) that he render." From prae (adv.) "before (see prae-) + -cipere, combining form of capere "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp."ETD praecipe (n.).2
among ancient Romans, a name prefixed to the family name (Marcus, Gaius, Lucius, etc.), answering to the modern personal name, 1706, from Latin praenomen, literally "before the name," from prae "before" (see prae-) + nomen (from PIE root *no-men- "name").ETD praenomen (n.).2
loose ("open") star cluster (M44) in Cancer, 1650s, from Latin praesaepe the Roman name for the grouping, literally "enclosure, stall, manger, hive," from prae "before" (see pre-) + saepire "to fence" (see septum).ETD Praesepe (n.).2
It is similar to the Hyades but more distant, about 600 light-years away (as opposed to about 150 for the Hyades), consists of about 1,000 stars, mostly older, the brightest of them around magnitude 6.5 and thus not discernible to the naked eye even on the clearest nights, but their collective light makes a visible fuzz of nebular glow that the ancients likened to a cloud (the original nebula); Galileo was the first to resolve it into stars (1609).ETD Praesepe (n.).3
The modern name for it in U.S. and Britain, Beehive, seems no older than 1840. Greek names included Nephelion "Little Cloud" and Akhlys "Little Mist." "In astrology, like all clusters, it threatened mischief and blindness" [Richard Hinckley Allen, "Star Names and Their Meanings," 1899].ETD Praesepe (n.).4
"Manger" to the Romans perhaps by influence of two nearby stars, Gamma and Delta Cancri, dim and unspectacular but both for some reason figuring largely in ancient astrology and weather forecasting, and known as "the Asses" (Latin Aselli), supposedly those of Silenus.ETD Praesepe (n.).5
from Latin adverb and preposition praeter "beyond, past, besides, except" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "in front of, before"). See preter-, which now is the usual form of it in English; also see æ (1).ETD praeter-.2
elected magistrate in ancient Rome (subordinate to consuls), early 15c., from Latin praetor "one who goes before;" originally "a consul as leader of an army," from prae "before" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "in front of, before") + root of ire "to go" (from PIE root *ei- "to go").ETD praetor (n.).2
early 15c., "belonging to the Praetorian Guard," from Latin praetorianus "belonging to a praetor," from praetor (see praetor). Praetorian Guard translates cohors praetoria, the bodyguard troop of a Roman commander or emperor. Hence modern figurative use for "defenders of an existing order."ETD Praetorian (adj.).2
1610s, "meddlesome, impertinently busy," short for earlier pragmatical, or else from French pragmatique (15c.), from Latin pragmaticus "skilled in business or law," from Greek pragmatikos "fit for business, active, business-like; systematic," from pragma (genitive pragmatos) "a deed, act; that which has been done; a thing, matter, affair," especially an important one; also a euphemism for something bad or disgraceful; in plural, "circumstances, affairs" (public or private, often in a bad sense, "trouble"), literally "a thing done," from stem of prassein/prattein "to do, act, perform" (see practical).ETD pragmatic (adj.).2
From 1640s as "relating to the affairs of a state or community." Meaning "matter-of-fact, treating facts systematically and practically" is from 1853 (Matthew Arnold). In some later senses from German pragmatisch.ETD pragmatic (adj.).3
1825, "matter-of-fact treatment," from Greek pragmat-, stem of pragma "that which has been done" (see pragmatic) + -ism. As a philosophical doctrine, by 1898, said to be from 1870s; probably from German Pragmatismus. As a name for a political theory, from 1951. Related: Pragmatist (1630s as "busybody;" 1892 as "adherent of a pragmatic philosophy").ETD pragmatism (n.).2
1540s, "pertaining to material interests of a state or community;" 1590s, "concerned with practical results," from Latin pragmaticus (see pragmatic) + -al (1). Often in a bad sense 17c.-18c.: "unduly busy over the affairs of others, characterized by officiousness, intrusive" (1610s); "busy over trifles, self-important" (1704). Related: Pragmatically; pragmaticalness.ETD pragmatical (adj.).2
1865, "officiousness," from pragmatic + -ism. From 1905 as a term in philosophy by American philosopher C.S. Peirce (1839-1914) in reference to the doctrine that abstract concepts must be understood in terms of their practical implications; coined to distinguish his philosophy from pragmatism.ETD pragmaticism (n.).2
capital of the Czech Republic, Czech Praha, perhaps from an ancient Slavic word related to Czech pražiti, a term for woodland cleared by burning. Popular etymology is from Czech prah "threshold." Related: Praguean; Praguian.ETD Prague.2
early 13c., preien, "ask earnestly, beg (someone)," also (c. 1300) in a religious sense, "pray to a god or saint," from Old French preier "to pray" (c. 900, Modern French prier), from Vulgar Latin *precare (also source of Italian pregare), from Latin precari "ask earnestly, beg, entreat," from *prex (plural preces, genitive precis) "prayer, request, entreaty," from PIE root *prek- "to ask, request, entreat."ETD pray (v.).2
From early 14c. as "to invite." The deferential parenthetical expression I pray you, "please, if you will," attested from late 14c. (from c. 1300 as I pray thee), was contracted to pray in 16c. Related: Prayed; praying.ETD pray (v.).3
Praying mantis attested from 1809 (praying locust is from 1752; praying insect by 1816; see mantis). The Gardener's Monthly of July 1861 lists other names for it as camel cricket, soothsayer, and rear horse.ETD pray (v.).4
"tract of level or undulating grassland in North America," by 1773, from French prairie "meadow, grassland," from Old French praerie "meadow, pastureland" (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *prataria, from Latin pratum "meadow," originally "a hollow," a word of uncertain origin; de Vaan suggests PIE *prh-to- "allotted."ETD prairie (n.).2
The word existed in early Middle English as prayere, praiere, but was lost and reborrowed in 18c. from Hennepin and other French writers to describe the fertile but treeless parts of the American plains.ETD prairie (n.).3
Prairie dog for the burrowing rodent of the American grasslands, is attested from 1774, so called for its cry, which is like the barking of a dog; prairie schooner "covered wagon used by emigrants in freighting on the prairies and Great Plains before the construction of transcontinental railroads" is from 1841. Illinois has been the Prairie State at least since 1861. In Latin, Neptunia prata was poetic for "the sea."ETD prairie (n.).4
"salted and peppered raw egg, drunk in booze or vinegar," by 1878, American English, from prairie + oyster (in reference to the taste or the method of consuming it). Also called prairie-cocktail (1889). Prairie-oyster as "fried calf testicle," considered a delicacy, is by 1941.ETD prairie-oyster (n.).2
c. 1300, preisen, "to express admiration of, commend, adulate, flatter" (someone or something), from Old French preisier, variant of prisier "to praise, value," from Late Latin preciare, earlier pretiare "to price, value, prize," from Latin pretium "reward, prize, value, worth," from PIE *pret-yo-, suffixed form of *pret-, extended form of root *per- (5) "to traffic in, to sell."ETD praise (v.).2
Specifically with God as an object from late 14c. Related: Praised; praising. It replaced Old English lof, hreþ.ETD praise (v.).3
The earliest sense in English was the classical one, "to assess, set a price or value on" (mid-13c.); also "to prize, hold in high esteem" (late 13c.). Now a verb in most Germanic languages (German preis, Danish pris, etc.), but only in English is it differentiated in form from its doublets price (q.v.) and prize, which represent variants of the French word with the vowel leveled but are closer in sense to the Latin originals.ETD praise (v.).4
"expression of approbation or esteem because of some virtue, performance, or quality," early 14c., from praise (v.). Not common until 16c.; the earlier noun, and the common one through most of the Middle English period, was praising (c. 1200).ETD praise (n.).2
mid-15c., preise-worthi, "deserving of praise," from praise (v.) + worthy. Usually hyphenated until mid-19c. An earlier word was preisable (mid-14c.). Related: Praiseworthiness.ETD praiseworthy (adj.).2
collective name for the popular dialects of ancient northern and central India (distinguished from and succeeding Sanskrit), sometimes also applied to modern languages (Hindi, Bengali, etc.), 1766, from Sanskrit prakrta- "natural, original" (opposed to samskrta- "prepared, refined"), from pra- "before, forward, forth" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "before") + krta- "to make, do, perform," from PIE root *k(w)er- "to make, form" (related to karma). Related: Prakritic.ETD Prakrit (n.).2
1727, prawlin, "confection made of almonds stirred into boiling sugar and water," from French praline (17c.), from the name of Marshal Duplessis-Praslin (1598-1675, pronounced "praline"), "whose cook invented this confection" [Klein]. Modern spelling in English from 1809. The name was transferred 19c. to other similar preparations.ETD praline (n.).2
"baby carriage," 1881, a colloquial shortening of perambulator, perhaps influenced by pram "flat-bottomed boat" (1540s), especially a type used in Baltic ports for loading and unloading merchant vessels, from Old Norse pramr, from Balto-Slavic (compare Polish prom, Russian poromu "ferryboat," Czech pram "raft"), from PIE *pro-, from root *per- (1) "forward," hence "in front of, toward, through."ETD pram (n.).2
late 14c., prauncen, originally of horses in high mettle, "make a show in walking; move proudly, lifting the feet with a capering motion," a word of unknown origin. By late 14c. of persons, "to strut, swagger, act proudly and aggressively."ETD prance (v.).2
Perhaps related to Middle English pranken "to show off" (from Middle Dutch pronken "to strut, parade;" see prank) by influence of dance (though prank is not attested as early as this word); or perhaps from Danish dialectal prandse "to go in a stately manner." Klein suggests Old French paravancier. Related: Pranced; prancing. As a noun from 1751, from the verb.ETD prance (v.).3
1560s, originally thieves' slang for "a horse," agent noun from prance (v.). Meaning "a prancing horse" is from 1590s.ETD prancer (n.).2
"pertaining to dinner" or other meal, 1820, from Latin prandium "late breakfast, luncheon," from *pram "early" (from PIE *pre-, variant of root *per- (1) "forward," hence "in front of, before, first") + edere "to eat" (from PIE root *ed- "to eat") + -al (1). OED reports it as "affected or jocose." Compare postprandial.ETD prandial (adj.).2
"a ludicrous trick" [Johnson], played sometimes in malice but more often in sport, 1520s, a word of uncertain origin, perhaps related to the obsolete verb prank "act ostentatiously, show off" (mid-15c.), also "to decorate, adorn in a showy manner" (1540s), which is related to Middle Low German prank "display" (compare also Dutch pronken, German prunken "to make a show, to strut"). The verb in the "play a trick on" sense also is from 1520s. Related: Pranked; pranking. Compare prig. Prinkum-prankum "a prank or trick" is attested from 1590s; as the name of a kind of dance, 1630s.ETD prank (n.).2
"one who plays a prank or is given to pranking," 1927, American English, from prank + -ster.ETD prankster (n.).2
rare metallic element, 1885, coined in Modern Latin by discoverer Carl Auer von Welsbach (1858-1929) from Greek prasios "leek-green" (from prason "leek;" traditionally identified with Latin porrum "leek," which suggests a PIE *prso-) + didymos "double" (from PIE root *dwo- "two").ETD praseodymium (n.).2
The name didymia was given to an earth in 1840, so called because it was a "twin" to lanthana. When didymia was further analyzed in the 1880s, it was found to have several components, one of which was characterized by green salts and named accordingly, with the elemental suffix -ium.ETD praseodymium (n.).3
"buttock," 1560s, criminals' slang, of unknown origin. Later in U.S. criminal slang, "hip pocket" (1914), and in British slang "contemptible person" (1968).ETD prat (n.).2
"chatter inconsequentially, talk foolishly or idly," early 15c., praten, from or related to Middle Dutch praten "to chatter" (c. 1400), from a Proto-Germanic imitative root (compare East Frisian proten, Middle Low German praten, Middle High German braten, Swedish prata "to talk, chatter"). Transitive sense of "say or tell in a prating manner" is from late 15c. (Caxton). Related: Prated; prating. As a noun, idle, childish talk," from 1570s.ETD prate (v.).2
"a comedy fall," by 1929, said to be a word from burlesque or vaudeville theater, from prat "buttock" + fall (n.). "Chiefly N. Amer. slang" [OED]. As a verb from 1940.ETD pratfall (n.).2
surname, apparently from Old English *prætt (adj.) "cunning, astute;" related to the late Old English noun prætt "a trick" (compare Middle English prat-wrench "a cunning trick;" see pretty (adj.)). As a type of pottery, named for Staffordshire pottery manufacturer Felix Pratt (1780-1859).ETD Pratt.2
"talk artlessly and childishly," 1530s, a frequentative (or diminutive) of prate (q.v.); also see -el (2) and (3). Related: Prattled; prattling. The noun, "inconsequential or childish talk," is attested from 1550s.ETD prattle (v.).2
"depravity, evil or corrupt state, wickedness," 1540s, from Latin pravitas "crookedness, distortion, deformity; impropriety, perverseness," from pravus "wrong, bad," literally "crooked," a word of unknown etymology.ETD pravity (n.).2
"long-tailed, ten-footed shrimp-like crustacean, abundant on the shores of the British Isles," early 15c., prayne, a word of unknown origin. "No similar name found in other langs." [OED].ETD prawn (n.).2
1580s, "practice or discipline for a specific purpose," from Medieval Latin praxis "practice, exercise, action" (mid-13c., opposite of theory), from Greek praxis "practice, action, doing," from stem of prassein, prattein "to do, to act" (see practical). From 1610s as "a collection of examples for practice." In 20c. given a particular sense in Marxist jargon.ETD praxis (n.).2
c. 1300, preiere, "earnest request, entreaty, petition," also "the practice of praying or of communing with God," from Old French prier "prayer, petition, request" (12c., Modern French prière), from Medieval Latin precaria "petition, prayer," noun use of Latin adjective precaria, fem. of precarius "obtained by prayer, given as a favor," from precari "to ask, beg, pray" (from PIE root *prek- "to ask, entreat").ETD prayer (n.1).2
From mid-14c. as "devout petition to God or a god or other object of worship;" also "the Lord's Prayer;" also "action or practice of praying." Related: Prayers. Prayer-book "book of forms for public or private devotions" is attested from 1590s; prayer-meeting "service devoted to prayer, sacred song, and other religious exercises" is from 1780. Prayer-rug "small carpet spread and used by a Muslim when engaged in devotions" is by 1898 (prayer-carpet is by 1861). To not have a prayer "have no chance" is from 1941.ETD prayer (n.1).3
"praying much, devout," 1620s, from prayer + -ful. Related: Prayerfully; prayerfulness.ETD prayerful (adj.).2
"one who offers prayers," late 14c., agent noun from pray (v.).ETD prayer (n.2).2
word-forming element meaning "before," from Old French pre- and Medieval Latin pre-, both from Latin prae (adverb and preposition) "before in time or place," from PIE *peri- (source also of Oscan prai, Umbrian pre, Sanskrit pare "thereupon," Greek parai "at," Gaulish are- "at, before," Lithuanian prie "at," Old Church Slavonic pri "at," Gothic faura, Old English fore "before"), extended form of root *per- (1) "forward," hence "beyond, in front of, before."ETD pre-.2
The Latin word was active in forming verbs. Also see prae-. Sometimes in Middle English muddled with words in pro- or per-.ETD pre-.3
Middle English prechen, "deliver a sermon, proclaim the Gospel," from late Old English predician, a loan word from Church Latin; reborrowed 12c. as preachen, from Old French preechier "to preach, give a sermon" (11c., Modern French précher), from Late Latin praedicare "to proclaim publicly, announce" (in Medieval Latin "to preach," source also of Spanish predicar), from Latin prae "before" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "in front of, before") + dicare "to proclaim, to say" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly," and see diction). Related: Preached; preaching.ETD preach (v.).2
Meaning "give earnest advice, especially on moral subjects" is by 1520s. To preach to the converted is recorded from 1867 (the form preach to the choir attested from 1979).ETD preach (v.).3
"one authorized or appointed to discourse publicly on religious subjects," c. 1200, prechour, from Old French preecheor "preacher" (Modern French prêcheur), from Latin praedicatorem (nominative praedicator) "public praiser, eulogist," literally "proclaimer" (see preach). Slang short form preach (n.) is recorded by 1968, American English.ETD preacher (n.).2
"inclined to preach or given to long-winded moral advice; characterized by a preaching style," 1819, from preach + -y (2). Related: Preachiness.ETD preachy (adj.).2
mid-14c., prechement, "a preaching, a sermon;" earlier "an annoying or tedious speech" (c. 1300), from Old French preechement, from Medieval Latin praediciamentum "preaching, discourse, declaration," from Latin praedicare (see preach (v.)). A doublet of predicament. Related: Preachments.ETD preachment (n.).2
also preadamite, "one who lived before Adam," 1660s, from pre- + Adam + -ite. Originally in reference to the supposed progenitors of the Gentiles, based on a belief that the biblical Adam was the first parent only of the Jews and their kin.ETD pre-adamite (n.).2
also preadmission, "previous admission; admission beforehand," 1825, from pre- + admission. Related: Pre-admit; pre-admitted.ETD pre-admission (n.).2
"prologue, preface, preliminary statement," late 14c., from Old French preambule (13c.) and directly from Medieval Latin preambulum, neuter adjective used as a noun, properly "preliminary," from Late Latin praeambulus "walking before," from Latin prae "before" (see pre-) + ambulare "to walk" (see amble (v.)). Especially the introductory paragraph of a statute or resolution, stating the reason for and intent of what follows. Related: Preambulary.ETD preamble (n.).2
"a device designed to amplify a weak source and pass it to another amplifier," 1929, from pre- + amplifier. Shortened form pre-amp is attested by 1957.ETD preamplifier (n.).2
also prearrange, "to arrange previously," 1792 (implied in pre-arranged), from pre- + arrange. Related: Pre-arranging.ETD pre-arrange (v.).2
also prearrangement, "previous arrangement," 1775, from pre- + arrangement.ETD pre-arrangement (n.).2
also pre-assembly; "preliminary assembly," 1921, from pre- + assembly.ETD preassembly (n.).2
"before the atomic age," 1914, in "World Set Free," in which H.G. Wells anticipates the word the future would use to look back from a time defined by events that hadn't yet happened in his day; from pre- + atomic.ETD pre-atomic (adj.).2
in canon law, "a stated income derived from some fixed source," hence, especially, "a stipend allotted from the revenues of a cathedral or collegiate church for the performance of certain duties by someone," early 15c., from Old French prebende, earlier provende (12c.) and directly from Medieval Latin prebenda "allowance, portion of food and drink supplied," also "an ecclesiastical living," from Late Latin praebenda "allowance, pension," from Latin praebenda "(things) to be furnished," neuter plural gerundive of praebere "to furnish, offer," contraction of praehibere, from prae "before" (see pre-) + habere "to hold" (from PIE root *ghabh- "to give or receive"). A doublet of provender. Related: Prebendary; prebendal.ETD prebend (n.).2
also Pre-Cambrian, "of or pertaining to the time before the Cambrian," 1861, from pre- + Cambrian.ETD Precambrian (adj.).2
1640s, a legal word, "held through the favor of another," from Latin precarius "depending on favor, pertaining to entreaty, obtained by asking or praying," from prex (genitive precis) "entreaty, prayer" (from PIE root *prek- "to ask, entreat").ETD precarious (adj.).2
The notion of "dependent on the will of another" led to the extended sense "risky, dangerous, hazardous, uncertain" (1680s), but this was objected to. "No word is more unskillfully used than this with its derivatives. It is used for uncertain in all its senses; but it only means uncertain, as dependent on others ..." [Johnson]. Related: Precariously; precariousness.ETD precarious (adj.).3
of concrete, "formed by casting before being set in place," 1914; see pre- + cast (v.).ETD precast (adj.).2
"relating to or expressing prayer, being in the form of a prayer or supplication," 1630s, from Late Latin precatorius "pertaining to petitioning," from precatorem "one who prays," agent noun from precari "to pray" (from PIE root *prek- "to ask, entreat").ETD precatory (adj.).2
"previous caution, prudent foresight (to prevent mischief or secure good results); a measure taken beforehand, an act of foresight," c. 1600, from French précaution (16c.) and directly from Late Latin praecautionem (nominative praecautio) "a safeguarding," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin praecavere "to guard against beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cavere "to be one's own guard" (see caution (n.)). In mid-20c. a euphemism for "contraception." The verb meaning "to warn (someone) in advance" is from c. 1700.ETD precaution (n.).2
"using precaution, displaying previous care or caution," "1680s, from precaution + -ous. Related: Precautiously; precautiousness.ETD precautious (adj.).2
"advising precaution, containing or expression precaution; taking precautions," 1720, from precaution + -ary.ETD precautionary (adj.).2
early 15c., "previous instance or circumstance which may be taken as a rule in subsequent similar cases; a custom, habit, or rule established," from the adjective precedent "preceding in time, previous, former" (c. 1400), from Old French precedent (also used as a noun) and directly from Latin praecedentum (nominative praecedens), present participle of praecedere "go before" (see precede).ETD precedent (n.).2
Meaning "thing or person that goes before another" is attested from mid-15c. Specifically in law, "a judicial decision which serves as a rule for future determinations in similar or analogous cases," by 1680s. As a verb meaning "to furnish with a precedent" from 1610s, now only in past participle precedented.ETD precedent (n.).3
early 15c., preceden, "lead the way; occur or exist before, go before in order of time," from Old French preceder and directly from Latin praecedere "to go before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). Meaning "to walk in front of" is late 15c.; that of "to go before in rank or importance" is attested from mid-15c. Related: Preceded; preceding.ETD precede (v.).2
late 15c., "a being a precedent, previous occurrence or existence," from precedent (n.) + -ence, or from Medieval Latin praecedentia, from Latin praecedent-, past-participle stem of praecedere. Meaning "act or fact of preceding another, right of preceding another in processions, assemblies, social formalities, etc." is from c. 1600.ETD precedence (n.).2
"authorized by precedent, in accordance with established custom," 1650s, past-participle adjective from precedent, which is attested as a verb from 1610s.ETD precedented (adj.).2
"to lead others in singing," 1732, from Latin praecantare "to sing before," or a back-formation from precentor.ETD precent (v.).2
"a leader or director of a church choir or congregation in singing," 1610s, from Late Latin praecentor "a leader in singing," from Latin praecantare "to sing before," from prae "before" (see pre-) + canere "to sing" (from PIE root *kan- "to sing"). For change of vowel, see biennial.ETD precentor (n.).2
1610s, "a previous conception, a presumption," from Latin praeceptionem (nominative praeceptio) "a previous notion, preconception," literally "a taking beforehand," noun of action from past-participle stem of praecipere "to take beforehand" (see precept).ETD preception (n.).2
"commandment or direction given as a rule of action," especially "an injunction as to moral conduct," late 14c., from Old French percept, percet (12c.) and directly from Latin praeceptum "maxim, rule of conduct, order," noun use of neuter past participle of praecipere "give rules to, order, advise," literally "take beforehand," from prae "before" (see pre-) + capere (past participle captus) "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp." For change of vowel, see biennial. Related: Preceptive; preceptory.ETD precept (n.).2
early 15c., preceptour, "tutor, instructor, teacher" (the earliest reference might be to "expert in the art of prose composition"), from Latin praeceptor "teacher, instructor," agent noun from praecipere (see precept). Medical sense of "physician who gives students practical training" is attested by 1803. Related: Preceptorial.ETD preceptor (n.).2
"office or position of a preceptor," 1764, from preceptor + -ship.ETD preceptorship (n.).2
"act of going before or moving forward, an advance," 1590s, from Late Latin praecissionem (nominative praecissio) "a coming before," from past-participle stem of Latin praecedere "to go before" (see precede). Originally used in reference to calculations of the equinoxes, which come slightly earlier each year, a phenomenon discovered by Hipparchus (190 B.C.E.-120 B.C.E.).ETD precession (n.).2
The word is attested much older (early 14c.) as an error for procession. Related: Precessional.ETD precession (n.).3
"concise statement, summary, abstract," 1760, from French précis, noun use of précis "cut short, condensed" (see precise). As a verb, from 1856.ETD precis (n.).2
"pedantic woman, woman aiming at refined delicacy of language and taste," a French word attested in English from 1727, from French précieuse, noun use of fem. of précieux (see precious (adj.)); especially as lampooned in Molière's comedy "Les Précieuses ridicules" (1659).ETD precieuse (n.).2
c. 1400, prasaynt (mid-15c. as precincte), "district defined for purposes of government or representation," especially in a city or town, from Medieval Latin precinctum "enclosure, boundary line," noun use of neuter past participle of Latin praecingere "to gird about, surround," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cingere "to surround, encircle" (see cinch (v.)). The meaning "exterior line or boundary encompassing a place" is from 1540s.ETD precinct (n.).2
"value, great worth, preciousness, quality of being precious," c. 1400 preciosite, from Old French preciosite and directly from Latin pretiocitas "costliness," in Medieval Latin also "a costly thing," from pretiosus (see precious (adj.)).ETD preciosity (n.).2
mid-13c., "valuable, of great worth or price, costly," from Old French precios "precious, costly, honorable, of great worth" (11c., Modern French précieux), from Latin pretiosus "costly, valuable," from pretium "value, worth, price" (see price (n.)).ETD precious (adj.).2
The meaning "over-refined, fastidious" in English is by late 14c. From 16c. through 18c. it also had a secondary ironic (inverted) sense of "worthless." Precious metals (1776) "gold and silver (and sometimes platinum)" are those that are rare and costly enough to be used as a standard of value and abundant enough to be used for coinage. Related: Preciously; preciousness.ETD precious (adj.).3
"beloved or dear person or object," 1706, from precious (adj.). Since the "Lord of the Rings" movies, often with deliberate echoes of Tolkien.ETD precious (n.).2
variant of praecipe (q.v.).ETD precipe (n.).2
1630s, "very steep or perpendicular face of rock," from French précipice, from Latin praecipitium "a steep place," literally "a fall or leap, a falling down or headlong," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Figuratively, "a perilous position," by 1650s. Earlier in English as a verb (1590s) meaning "fall to great depth."ETD precipice (n.).2
1520s, "to hurl or fling down" (from a precipice or height), a back formation from precipitation or else from Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong; be hasty," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head").ETD precipitate (v.).2
Earliest use in English is figurative, "to hurl or cause (someone) to fall (into some state or condition). Meaning "to cause to happen suddenly, hurry the beginning of" is recorded from 1620s. The chemical sense "cause to fall as a sediment to the bottom of a vessel" is from 1620s (intransitive sense from 1640s). The meteorological sense (intransitive) is attested by 1863. Related: Precipitated; precipitating.ETD precipitate (v.).3
"pertaining to precipitation, having the quality of precipitating," 1883; see precipitate (v.) + -ive.ETD precipitative (adj.).2
late 15c., precipitacioun, "a casting down" (of the evil angels from heaven), also, in alchemy "separation of a solid substance from a solution," from Old French precipitation (15c.) and directly from Latin praecipitationem (nominative praecipitatio) "act or fact of falling headlong, haste," noun of action from past-participle stem of praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong; be hasty," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head").ETD precipitation (n.).2
The meaning "sudden haste" is from c. 1500. The meaning "act of falling from a height" is attested from 1610s. The meteorological sense of "rain, snow, dew, frost, hail, etc.; moisture from the atmosphere deposited on the earth's surface" is from 1670s.ETD precipitation (n.).3
1640s, "rash, done with excessive or undue haste" (a sense now obsolete), also "rushing headlong, violently hurried," from obsolete French precipiteux (16c.), from Vulgar Latin *praecipitosus, from praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong; be hasty" (see precipitation). Meaning "high and steep" is from 1806. Related: Precipitously; precipitousness.ETD precipitous (adj.).2
"falling headlong, rushing hastily downward," 1610s, from Latin praecipitantem, present participle of praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong; be hasty" (see precipitate (v.)). Meaning "rashly hasty" is from 1640s. As a noun in chemistry, "an agent which when added to a solution separates something dissolved and causes it to precipitate or fall to the bottom," from 1680s. The adjective senses now are taken by precipitate (adj.). Related: Precipitance.ETD precipitant (adj.).2
1560s, in chemistry, "any substance which, having been dissolved in a fluid, falls to the bottom of the vessel on the addition of some other substance producing decomposition of the compound," probably a back formation from precipitation. In meteorology, "moisture condensed from vapor by cooling and deposited as rain, etc.," by 1832.ETD precipitate (n.).2
c. 1600, "hasty, acting without deliberation;" 1610s, "hurled headlong, plunging or rushing down," from Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Meaning "hasty" is attested from 1650s. Related: Precipitately.ETD precipitate (adj.).2
1610s, now obsolete, but formerly preferred by purists for the sense "high and steep" over the later formation precipitous. Related: Precipitiously.ETD precipitious (adj.).2
mid-15c., "neither more nor less than, with no error; exactly stated or marked off; definitely or strictly expressed; distinguished with precision from all others," from Old French précis "condensed, cut short" (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin precisus, from Latin praecisus "abrupt, abridged, cut off," past participle of praecidere "to cut off, shorten," from prae "before" (see pre-) + -cidere, combining form of caedere "to cut" (from PIE root *kae-id- "to strike"). For the Latin vowel change, see acquisition. Related: Precisely (late 14c.).ETD precise (adj.).2
"definiteness, exactness, character of being precise," 1560s, from precise + -ness.ETD preciseness (n.).2
1630s, "a cutting off (mentally), abstraction, freedom from inessential elements," from French précision (16c.) and directly from Latin praecisionem (nominative praecisio) "a cutting off," in Medieval Latin "precision," noun of action from past-participle stem of praecidere "to cut off, shorten," from prae "before" (see pre-) + -cidere, combining form of caedere "to cut" (from PIE root *kae-id- "to strike"). Meaning "quality or state of being precise" is from 1740.ETD precision (n.).2
"one devoted to precision," 1570s, from precise + -ian on model of Christian, etc., or from or based on French précisien. Especially "one who adhered punctiliously to rules or doctrines." Precisionist in the same sense is by 1827.ETD precisian (n.).2
also preclassical, "existing or occurring before classical times," by 1871, from pre- + classical.ETD pre-classical (adj.).2
1610s, "prevent by anticipative action," from Latin praecludere "to close, shut off; hinder, impede," from prae "before, ahead" (see pre-) + claudere "to shut" (see close (v.)). The more literal sense of "close, shut up, prevent access to" (1620s) probably is obsolete. Related: Precluded; precluding.ETD preclude (v.).2
"act of precluding; state of being precluded," 1610s, from Latin praeclusionem (nominative praeclusio) "a shutting off," noun of action from past-participle stem of praecludere "to close, shut off; impede" (see preclude).ETD preclusion (n.).2
"tending to preclude," 1690s, from stem of Latin praecludere "to close, shut off; impede" (see preclude) + -ive. Related: Preclusively.ETD preclusive (adj.).2
"premature growth, ripeness, or development," 1630s, from French précocité (17c.), from précoce "precocious," from Latin praecocem (nom. praecox) "maturing early;" see precocious.ETD precocity (n.).2
1640s, "developed or ripe before the usual time," originally of plants, with -ous + Latin praecox (genitive praecocis) "maturing early," from prae "before" (see pre-) + coquere "to ripen," literally "to cook" (from PIE root *pekw- "to cook, ripen").ETD precocious (adj.).2
Originally of flowers or fruits. Figurative use, of persons, dates, etc., "characteristic of early maturity," by 1670s. Related: Precociously; precociousness. Obsolete princock "pert, forward, saucy boy or youth" (16c.-18c.) might be a rude, low slang folk-etymology alteration of Latin praecox.ETD precocious (adj.).3
"foreknowledge," mid-15c., precognicioun, from Late Latin praecognitionem (nom. praecognitio) "foreknowledge," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin praecognoscere "to foreknow," from prae "before" (see pre-) + cognoscere "to get to know, recognize" (see cognizance).ETD precognition (n.).2
also precolumbian, "occurring or existing before the European discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus," see pre- + Columbus.ETD pre-Columbian (adj.).2