praeceps

Latin

Etymology

From prae (“before”) +‎ -ceps (“headed”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈprai.keps/

Adjective

praeceps m, f, n (genitive praecipitis); third declension

1. head first, headlong
2. steep, precipitous
3. (figuratively) hasty, rash, precipitate

Inflection

Third declension, neuter nominative singular like masculine/feminine.

Number	Singular			Plural
Case \ Gender	Masc./Fem.	Neuter		Masc./Fem.	Neuter
nominative	praeceps	praeceps		praecipitēs	praecipitia
genitive	praecipitis	praecipitis		praecipitium	praecipitium
dative	praecipitī	praecipitī		praecipitibus	praecipitibus
accusative	praecipitem	praeceps		praecipitēs	praecipitia
ablative	praecipitī	praecipitī		praecipitibus	praecipitibus
vocative	praeceps	praeceps		praecipitēs	praecipitia

Descendants

• English: precipitous

Adverb

praeceps (not comparable)

1. headlong

Noun

praeceps n (genitive praecipitis); third declension

1. a precipice, steep place
2. extreme danger

Inflection

Third declension neuter.

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	praeceps	praecipita
genitive	praecipitis	praecipitum
dative	praecipitī	praecipitibus
accusative	praeceps	praecipita
ablative	praecipite	praecipitibus
vocative	praeceps	praecipita

Descendants

• English: precipice

References

• praeceps in Charlton T. Lewis & Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879