-preci-

n. [ LL. praecinctum, fr. L. praecingere, praecinctum, to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre-, and Cincture. ] 1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; -- often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state. “The precincts of light.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The parish, or precinct, shall proceed to a new choice. Laws of Massachusetts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Preciousness; something precious. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -ties /plu>. [ F. préciosité, OF. also precieuseté. ] Fastidious refinement, esp. in language; specif., the affected purism and sententiousness characteristic of the French précieuses of the 17th century.

He had the fastidiousness, the preciosity, the love of archaisms, of your true decadent. L. Douglas. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ OF. precious, precius, precios, F. précieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price. ] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. “The precious bane.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections. [ 1913 Webster ]

She is more precious than rules. Prov. iii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. Précieuse, Preciosity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Elaborate embroidery of precious language. Saintsbury. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. --
Precious stones, gems; jewels. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) See Præcipe, and Precept. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. précipice, L. praecipitium, fr. praeceps, -cipitis, headlong; prae before + caput, capitis, the head. See Pre-, and Chief. ] 1. A sudden or headlong fall. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A headlong steep; a very steep, perpendicular, or overhanging place; an abrupt declivity; a cliff. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]