precipice

C2 Topic:Food & Drink

US /ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs/ See IPA manual

Freq #26722

Meanings

1

noun
A very steep cliff.

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[…].
2

noun
The brink of a dangerous situation.

To stand on a precipice.
3

noun
a very steep cliff
4

noun
A headlong fall or descent.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

cliffcliffdrop

Word family

Forms precipices

Derived forms precipiced

Related forms precipitous precipitouslyprecipitousness

Etymology

First attested in 1598, from Middle French precipice, from Latin praecipitium (“a steep place”), from praeceps (“steep”), from prae + caput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“head”). Distantly related to precept through Latin praecipiō (“to teach”), from prae + capiō (“take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-, *keh₂p- (“to hold; to seize”).

Topics

Food & Drink

External links

# precipice

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs/
**Frequency rank:** 26722

## Meanings
1. A very steep cliff.
2. The brink of a dangerous situation.
3. a very steep cliff
4. A headlong fall or descent.

## Examples
- 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[…].
- To stand on a precipice.

## Synonyms
- cliff
- cliffdrop

## Derived Forms
- precipiced

## Related Forms
- precipitous
- precipitously
- precipitousness

## Etymology
First attested in 1598, from Middle French precipice, from Latin praecipitium (“a steep place”), from praeceps (“steep”), from prae + caput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“head”). Distantly related to precept through Latin praecipiō (“to teach”), from prae + capiō (“take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-, *keh₂p- (“to hold; to seize”).

## Topics
- Food & Drink

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