precarious

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Translations 1.3.3 External links

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Latin precārius (“‘begged for, obtained by entreaty’”), from prex, precis (“‘prayer’”). Compare French précaire and Spanish, Portuguese and Italian precario.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /prəˈkɛəriəs/
• (US) IPA: /prəˈkɛriəs/
• Rhymes: -ɛəriəs

[edit] Adjective

precarious (comparative more precarious, superlative most precarious)

1. (comparable) dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous
2. (law) depending on the intention of another

[edit] Derived terms

• precariously
• precariousness

[edit] Translations

• German: prekär de(de)
• Yiddish: אומזיכער
• Bulgarian: несигурен
• Portuguese: precário
• Swedish: prekär sv(sv)

[edit] External links

• precarious in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• precarious in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911