English Dictionary: precariously | by the DICT Development Group |
2 results for precariously | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Precarious \Pre*ca"ri*ous\, a. [L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See {Pray}.] 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. --Addison. 2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. [bd]Intervals of partial and precarious liberty.[b8] --Macaulay. Syn: Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. Usage: {Precarious}, {Uncertain}. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified [bd]granted to entreaty,[b8] and, hence, [bd]wholly dependent on the will of another.[b8] Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties. -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly}, adv. -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness}, n. |