precipice
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See also: précipice
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- præcipice (archaic)
Etymology[edit]
First attested in 1598, from Middle French precipice, from Latin praecipitium (“a steep place”), from praeceps (“steep”), from prae + caput (“head”). First meaning of the noun is recorded from 1632.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
- (weak vowel merger) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɛs.ə.pɪs/
- Hyphenation: preci‧pice
Noun[edit]
precipice (plural precipices)
- A very steep cliff.
- 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], 3rd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], published 1719, →OCLC:
- 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 […]
- (figurative) The brink of a dangerous situation.
- to stand on a precipice
- 2022 September 14, Arthur Neslen, quoting Noam Chomsky, “Health groups call for global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty”, in The Guardian[1]:
- In emailed comments supporting the new initiative, the laureate professor Noam Chomsky said: “Humans are marching towards a precipice. When we reach it, unthinkable catastrophe is inevitable. […] ”
- (obsolete) A headlong fall or descent.
Synonyms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
very steep cliff
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Translations to be checked
Middle French[edit]
Noun[edit]
precipice m (plural precipices)
- precipice (steep cliff)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *keh₂p-
- English terms borrowed from Middle French
- English terms derived from Middle French
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- English terms with audio links
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