a. [ OF. precious, precius, precios, F. précieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price. ]
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 ]
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
Elaborate embroidery of precious language. Saintsbury. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
Precious metals,
Precious stones,
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 ]