precariously 
of detriment, alteration, failure, total loss, or 
removal. 
precariousness (pre-ka'ri-us-nes), w. The state 
or character of being precarious ; uncertainty ; 
dependence on the will or pleasure of others, 
or on unknown events : as, the precarioutnextt 
of life or health. 
precarium (pre-ka'ri-um), n. ; pi. precaria (-ft). 
[L., neut. of precariim, obtained by entreaty: 
see precarious.'] In Bom. and Scots law, a loan 
or grant revocable at the discretion of the lender 
or grantor. 
Very early In Roman legal history we come upon ten- 
ancy-at.will, under the name of precarium, which of Itself 
showed that there must have been large estates capable 
of subdivision. Kncyc. Brit., XIV. 2UO. 
precartilaginous (pre-kiir-ti-laj'i-nus), a. [< 
prc- + cartilage: see cartilaginous.'] Prior to 
the formation of cartilage, as a stage or state of 
an embryo. 
precaryt (prek'a-ri), . [< ML. prrcaria, also 
precarium, a precary (see def.), fern. (sc. char- 
to) or neut. of prectirius, depending on favor: 
see precarious. Cf. precarium.] A charter or 
grant, also known as precarious or prccatori- 
ous letters, by which a person obtained from a 
church or monastery the use for an annual rent 
of an estate previously donated by him to the 
church or monastery. Hist., (leoy., etc., Diet., 
2d ed., ed. Collier (1701), s. v. precary. 
precationt (pre-ka'shon). n. [Early moil. E. 
precacioii, < OF. precation, precacion, F. precii- 
tion = Pg. precactto = It. precazione, < L. prcca- 
tio(n-), a praying, a form of prayer, < prccnri, 
yp.precatus, pray: seeprayi.] The act of pray- 
ing; supplication; entreaty; hence, a prayer ; 
an invocation. 
Beside our daily praters and continual precarious to 
God and his salutes for prosperus successe to ensue in your 
merciall exployte and royall passage. 
HaU, Hen. V. , f. 5. (llalliirrll. ) 
precative (prek'a-tiv), a. [< Ij. precalims, 
prayed for, obtained by entreaty, < precuri, pp. 
precati<s,pr&y: see pray 1 .] Suppliant; beseech- 
ing ; expressing an entreaty or a desire : as, the 
precative mode. 
This In not to be called an Imperative sentence, . . . 
but rather, if I may use the word, tis a sentence precatiee 
or optative. Harris, Hermes, i. >. 
precatorioust, a. [< L. precatoriun, pertaining 
to entreaty or petition: see precatory.'] Same 
as precatory. See precary. 
precatory (prek'a-to-ri), a. [< L. precatorius, 
pertaining to entreaty or petition, < precari, pp. 
prccatus, pray : see pray 1 .] Relating to prayer ; 
being in the form of a prayer or supplication. 
Perfect models of precatory eloquence. 
Sir J. Hatcking, Johnson, p. 270. 
Precatory words, in law, expressions in a will praying 
or recommending that a thing be done. Such words do 
not raise a trust nor bind the person to whom they are 
addressed, unless properly capable of an imperative con- 
struction, when they are sometimes deemed to establish 
what is called a precatory trust. 
precaudal (pro-ka'dal), . [< pre- + caudal.] 
Situated in advance of the caudal or coccygeal 
series of vertebrae: as, a, precaudal vertebra, 
precausation (pre-k4-za'shon), n. [< pre- + 
causation.] Foreordination. 
As if God were not able to make a faculty which can de- 
termine its own comparative act to this rather than to that, 
by his sustentation, and universal precautation and con- 
course, without the said predetermining premotion. 
Baxter, Life of Faith, II. 9. 
precaution (pre-ka'shon), . [< OF. precaution, 
F. precaution = Sp. precaution = Pg. precau^So 
= It. precauzione, < LL. prtecautio(n-), pre- 
caution, < L. priecavere, pp. nrxcnutus, guard 
against beforehand, < prse, before, + carere, 
be on one's guard: see caution.] I. Previous 
caution; prudent foresight; care previously 
employed to prevent mischief or secure good 
results. 
She like a new disease, unknown to men, 
Creeps, no precaution used, among the crowd. 
Ti-iiniifitii, Guinevere. 
2. A measure taken beforehand; an act of 
foresight, designed to ward off possible evil or 
to secure good results. 
The same notion of predestination makes them [the 
Turks] use no precautions against the plague : but they 
even go and help to bury the bodies of those that die 
of it. Pocncke, Description of the East, I. 181. 
precaution (pre-ka'shon), v. f. [< precaution, 
.] To caution beforehand ; warn. 
To precaution posterity against the like errours. 
Drydcn, Vind. of Duke of Ouise. 
precautional (pro-ka'shon-al), . [< pni-ii/i- 
lioii + -l.'] Of the nature of precaution ; pre- 
ventive of mischief ; precautionary. [Rare.] 
4676 
Wherefore this lirst flliall fear is but virtuous and pre. 
cavKanaU. W. Montague, Devoute Essays, I. vl. 3. 
precautionary (pre-ka'shon-a-ri), . and n. [< 
precaution + -ary.] I. a. I.' Advising precau- 
tion; containing or expressing precaution. 
Recollecting the precautionary letter she had written 
me on the subject, I felt that I wished Miss Marshall at 
Jericho. '/'. Hoot, Gilbert Guroey, I. iv. (Latham.) 
2. Taking precautions; characterized by pre- 
vious caution : as, precautionary measures. 
Il.f n. A precaution ; a preliminary measure 
taken for prudential reasons. 
Thou seest, Belford, by the above inrrcantimiariff, that 
I forget nothing. 
Kiehanlmn, Clarissa Harlowe, IV. 49. (Darin.) 
precautions (pre-ka'shus), a. [< precaution) 
+ -oug. Cf. cautious.] Using precaution ; dis- 
playing previous care or caution; provident. 
It was not the mode of the Court in those days to be very 
penetrant, pricautimi. or watchful. 
Roger North, Examen, p. 93. (Danes.) 
precautiously (pre-ka'shus-li), adv. With pre- 
caution. 
precava. n. See prtrcara. 
precaval, praecaval (pre-ka'val), a. and n. [< 
prxcara T -til.] I. . Anterior or (in man) 
superior, as a caval vein: distinguished from 
poatcaral. 
II. n. The precaval vein, or precava. 
precet, r. An obsolete variant of pres* 1 . 
precedaneoust (pre-se-da'ne-us), a. [< precede 
+ -aneous.] Going before in time; preceding; 
antecedent; anterior. 
Faith is in Holy Scripture represented In nature prece- 
daneous to God's benevolence. 
Barrow, Sermons, II. iv. (Latfiam.) 
precede (pre-sed'), r.; pret. and pp. preceded, 
ppr. preeediiii/. [< OF. preceder, F. preceder = 
Pr. Sp. Pg. preecder = It. precedcre, < L. prse- 
eeilere, go before, precede, surpass, excel, < 
l>rfe, before, + oedere, go, move, walk : see 
cede.] I. trang. 1. To go before in place; walk 
in front of ; advance before ; hence, specifically, 
to go before in rank or importance ; take pre- 
cedence of. 
Such a reason of precedence St. Cyprian giveth in an- 
other caae, t itvaii M- (salth he) Rome for Its magnitude ought 
to precede Carthage. Barrotc, The Pope's Supremacy. 
Room for my lord ! three jockeys in his train ; 
Six huntsmen with a shout precede his chair. 
Pope, Dunclad, II. 193. 
2. To go before in the order of time ; occur or 
take place before ; exist before. 
Imagination ever precedetk voluntary motion. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, II. 206. 
Both families lived together in all that harmony which 
generally precedes an expected alliance. 
Goldsmith, Vicar, IL 
3. To put something before; preface; intro- 
duce as by a preface or prelude. 
It has been usual to precede hostilities by a public de- 
claration communicated to the enemy. 
Chancellor Kent, Cora. (7th ed.), L 61. 
U. intrans. 1. To go before in place; walk 
in front; specifically, to take precedence ; have 
superior authority ; hence, to prevail. 
Then heaven and earth renew'd shall be made pure 
To sanctity that shall receive no stain : 
Till then, the curse pronounced on both precede*. 
Milton, P. L., x. 640. 
2. To come first in the order of time ; occur or 
exist previously. 
Of six preceding ancestors, that gem, 
Conferr'd by testament to the sequent Issue, 
Hath it been owed and worn. 
Shalt., All's Well, v. 3. 196. 
An antecedent proposition may be separated from ito 
consequent by other propositions : but a preceding propo- 
sition is closely followed by another. 
Crabb, Eng. Synonymes, p. 85. 
precedence (pre-se'dens), n. [< OF. precedence, 
F. precedence = Sp. Pg. precedencia = It. pre- 
cedema, < ML. pnecedentia, precedence, < L. 
prteceden(tr)s, ppr. of jirtecedere, go before: see 
precedent.] 1. The act of going before; spe- 
cifically, the right of preceding others in pub- 
lic or private ceremonies; the right to a more 
honorable place in public processions or assem- 
blies, or in the formalities of social life; so- 
cial superiority; advantage in rank. In many 
countries precedence is a matter of strict regu- 
lation. See order of precedence, below. 
For me now. 
That hitherto have kept the first, to know 
A second place, or yield the least precedence 
To any other, s death. 
Beau, and Fl., Thierry and Theodoret, ii. 1. 
2. Prior place; superior position; position in- 
dicative of superior rank. 
precedented 
Precedence 
None sure will claim in hell. 
Milton, P. L., II. S8. 
That form, the labour of almighty skill, 
Kram'd for the service of a free-bom will, 
Asserts precetlence, and bespeaks control. 
Cmrper, Tirocinium, 1. 9. 
3. Previous occurrence, or existence before; 
priority in time. 4f. That which goes before; 
a preceding act or speech. 
Mat. But yet, madam 
Cleo. I do not like " But yet" ; It does allay 
The good precedence. Sha*., A. and C., ll S. 51. 
Order of precedence, the whole body of rules which flx 
gradation of rank, especially with regard to the right of 
certain officials and persons of rank to a prescribed place In 
any ceremony. In Great Britain precedence is formed by 
statute, patent, or usage, but the chief regulations regard* 
ing the order of precedence were settled by Parliament In 
the reign of Henry VIII. Some of the leading rules are 
thus summarized from Burke : precedence is conferred by 
men's rank : men of official rank who have higher person- 
al precedence are placed according to that precedence ; 
peers and peeresses rank In the order of England, Scotland, 
Great Britain, Ireland, I'nlted Kingdom and Ireland, ac- 
cording to the dates of patents ; younger sons of persons 
of higher rank come after eldest sons of persons of next 
lower rank ; daughters of peers, baronets, etc., rank after 
the wives of their eldest brothers; wives and children of 
great officers of state have no consequent precedence ; a 
lady having precedence by birth retains her precedence 
although married to a commoner: baronets rank accord- 
ing to dates of their patents; ambassadors rank after 
members of royal families, ministers and envoys after 
dukes. Patentof precedence, a grant from the crown 
to such barristers as it thinks proper to honor with that 
mark of distinction, whereby they are entitled to such 
rank and preaudience as are assigned in their respective 
patents. Personal precedence, precedence In right of 
birth or family, as distinguished from that which is con- 
ferred by official position. To take precedence of, to 
come before, as superior In rank or Importance ; have a 
prior claim Inattention or respect. = 8yn. 1. Preeminence, 
etc. Sec priority. 
precedency (pre-se'den-si), w. [As precedence 
(see -c^).] Same us precedence. 
Me thlnkes the Precedencie which God gave this Hand, 
tohethenrst Restorer of burled Truth, should have beene 
followed with more happy succcsse, and sooner attaln'd 
Perfection. Milton, Reformation In Eng., i. 
precedent (pre-se'dent as an adj., pres'e-dent 
as a noun), a. and n. [< OF. precedent, F. pre- 
cedent = Sp. Pg. It. prccedeiite, < L. prsecc- 
den(t-)s, ppr. of prvecderc, go before: see pre- 
cede.] I. it. (pre-se'dent). Preceding; going 
before in the order of time; antecedent; an- 
terior: previous; former. 
A slave that Is not twentieth part the tithe 
Of your precedent lord. Shalt., Hamlet, Hi. 4. l>8. 
Cordus, a writing fellow, they have got 
To gather notes of the precedent times, 
And make them into Annals. 
B. ,/IIIUKIII, SejamiK, II. 2. 
Precedent condition, or condition precedent See 
condition, 8 (a\ =8yn. Seepivptou*. 
II. H. (pres'e-dent). 1. A preceding act ion or 
circumstance which may serve as a pattern or 
example in subsequent cases; an antecedent 
instance which creates a rule for following 
cases ; a model instance. 
Set It down to thyself as well to create good precedents 
as to follow them. Bacon, Great Place. 
The Precedent may dangerous prove, and wrack 
Thy throne and kingdom, if thy People read 
Highest Rebellion's Lesson in their Head. 
./. Beaumont, Psyche, III. K.7. 
2. Specifically, in laic: (a) A judicial decision, 
interlocutory or final, which serves as a rule for 
future determinations in similar or analogous 
cases. (6) A form of proceeding or of an in- 
strument followed or deemed worthy to be fol- 
lowed as a pattern in similaror analogous cases. 
He hath lately found out, among the old Records of the 
Tower, some Precedents tor raising a Tax called Ship- 
Money. Hoirell, Letters, I. rt 11. 
3. A custom, habit, or rule established; previ- 
ous example or usage. 
The unconqnered powers 
Of precedent and custom interpose 
Between a king and virtue 
Shelley, yueen Mab, ill. 
Precedent Is only another name for eml>odied experience, 
and . . . counts for even more in the guidance of com- 
munities of men than in that of the individual life. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 164. 
4f. A presage; sign; indication. 
With this she selxeth on his sweating palm, 
The precedent of pith and livelihood. 
ShaJc., Venus and Adonis, 1. 26. 
5f. An original, as the original draft of a writ- 
ing. 
My Lord Melun, let this be copied out, 
And keep it safe for our remembrance : 
Return the precedent to these lords again. 
Shak.. K. John, T. 2. S. 
= Syn. L Pattern, Model, etc. See example. 
precedented (pres'e-den-ted), a. [< pri-<-i dmt 
+ -rd"*.] Authorized by precedent; in ar<-<>r- 
dance with precedent or established custom. 
