precarious
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
precarious¹
- /pɹɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛəɹi.əs
Where it comes from
From Latin precārius (“begged for, obtained by entreaty”), from prex, precis (“prayer”). Compare French précaire, Portuguese precário, and Spanish and Italian precario.
adjective more precarious · most precarious
- Dangerously insecure or unstable; perilous. One morning I had been driven to the precarious refuge afforded by the steps of the inn, after rejecting offers from the Celebrity to join him in a variety of amusements. But even here I was not free from interruption, for he was seated on a horse-block below me, playing with a fox terrier.
- Depending on the intention of another.
precarious²
- /pɹɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/ US, UK
Rhymes with -ɛəɹi.əs
Where it comes from
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *per-
Proto-Indo-European *preh₂-
Proto-Indo-European *-i
Proto-Indo-European *préh₂i?
Proto-Italic *prai
Proto-Italic *prai-
Latin prae-lbor.
Middle English pre-
English pre-
English carious
English precarious
From pre- + carious.
adjective
- Relating to incipient caries.
