precious : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: precious	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for precious
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
precious adv extremely; "there is precious little time left" [syn: precious, preciously] adj characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for; "a cherished friend"; "children are precious"; "a treasured heirloom"; "so good to feel wanted" Synonym(s): cherished, precious, treasured, wanted of high worth or cost; "diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones" held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature; "a valued friend"; "precious memories" Synonym(s): valued, precious obviously contrived to charm; "an insufferably precious performance"; "a child with intolerably cute mannerisms" Synonym(s): cute, precious
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Precious \Pre"cious\, a. Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. {Pr[82]cieuse}, {Preciosity}. Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. --Chaucer. Elaborate embroidery of precious language. --Saintsbury.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Precious \Pre"cious\, a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. pr[82]cieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See {Price}.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. [bd]The precious bane.[b8] --Milton. 2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections. She is more precious than rules. --Prov. iii. 15. Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. --Hooker. Note: Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal. 3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.] Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. --Chaucer. {Precious metals}, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. {Precious stones}, gems; jewels.