precipitant

See also: précipitant

English

Etymology

From Old French precipitant, from Latin praecipitans, present participle of praecipitare (“to cast down headlong”), from praeceps (“head foremost, headlong”), from prae (“before”) + caput (“head”).

Adjective

precipitant (comparative more precipitant, superlative most precipitant)

1. That falls headlong, or causes a headlong fall.
   • 1708, John Philips, Cyder:

     They leave their little lives / Above the clouds, precipitant to earth.

2. Rash or impulsive.
3. Sudden or unexpected.
4. (chemistry) That causes precipitation.

Synonyms

• (that falls headlong): headlong, precipitate
• (rash or impulsive): heedless, hotheaded, impetuous; see also Thesaurus:reckless
• (sudden or unexpected): abrupt, precipitous, subitaneous; see also Thesaurus:sudden

Noun

precipitant (plural precipitants)

1. A substance that forms a precipitate when added to a solution.

Related terms

• precipice
• precipitous
• precipitate
• precipitation

Further reading

• “precipitant”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “precipitant”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “precipitant”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.