precipitate 
\ong,<pricrrpit(prirrii>it-),Yu>tu\ foremost, head- 
long, < prie, before, + caput, head: sec capital 1 . 
Ct.}>rii-i/iii-i.] I. trims. 1. To cast down head- 
long; fling from a precipice or height; hurl 
downward. 
Few men have frowned first upon Fortune, and precipi- 
tated themselves from the top of her wheel, before they 
felt at least the declination of It Dryden, Amboyna, Ded. 
He trembles to think that a single touch might bury him 
under a crag precipitated from above. Kuntace, Italy, 1. 1. 
2. To cause to fall as a sediment to the bottom 
of a vessel ; reduce from a state of solution to 
a solid form, as by means of a reagent or chemi- 
cal force. 3. To drive forcibly ; cause to has- 
ten onward. 
Hence, then, and evil go with thee along, . . . 
Ere . . . some more sudden vengeance, wlng'd from God, 
Precipitate thee with augmented pain. 
Milton, P. L., vL 280. 
4. To hasten ; bring hastily to pass ; hurry up : 
as, to precipitate a night. 
But they allow him [the Son of Ood] not the liberty of a 
fair tryal ; they hasten and precipitate the sentence, that 
they might do so the execution. 
Stillingfeet, Sermons, I. vl. 
Hostilities had been precipitated by the impolitic con- 
duct of Navarre. Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., U. 23. 
5. To hasten intemperately or rashly; hence, 
to spoil ; ruin. 
That they like vertuons fathers have regard thereunto, 
and not to suffer the pope's holiness, if he would thus wil- 
fully, without reason or discretion, to precipitate himself 
and the said see. Bp. Burnet, Records, I. li. 22. 
We sat whole nights drinking strong liquors without 
eating a bit; which disposed us to sloth, enflamed our 
bodies, and precipitated or prevented digestion. 
Swift, Gulliver's Travels, iv. 0. 
Precipitated calomel, calomel obtained by precipita- 
tion from a solution of corrosive sublimate by a stream of 
sulphurous acid. Precipitated carbonate of calcium 
or lime, a white, minutely crystalline powder prepared 
by precipitation from a solution of calcium chlorid by so- 
dium carbonate : used In medicine as an astringent and 
antacid. Precipitated carbonate of iron, a reddish- 
brown powder prepared by precipitation from an Iron 
sulphate solution by sodium carbonate. In composition 
It Is a hydrated ferric oxid containing a little ferrous 
carlmnate. Also called sesquioxido/ iron, red oxid of iron, 
aperitive sa/ron of Mars. Precipitated carbonate of 
zinc, a white, Impalpable, odorless, and tasteless powder 
obtained from a solution of zinc sulphate by precipitating 
with sodium carbonate. Precipitated extract of bark 
Same as chinoidine. Precipitated oxid of mercury, 
yellow oxid of mercury. Precipitated phosphate of 
calcium <>r lime, normal calcium orthophosnhate, a fine 
white amorphous powder prepared by precipitation from 
a hydrochloric acid solution of bone-ash by ammonia. Also 
called bone-phosphate. Precipitated sulphate of iron, 
a pale bluish-green crystalline powder precipitated by al- 
cohol from an aqueous solution of ferrous sulphate. Pre- 
cipitated sulphid of antimony, sulphurate of antimo- 
ny Precipitated sulphur.a fine yellowish-white odor- 
less amorphous powder prepared by heating a mixture of 
sublimed sulphur, lime, and water, and treating the re- 
sulting solution with hydrochloric acid. 
II. intrant. 1. To fall headlong. 
Hadst thon been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, 
So many fathom down precipitating., 
Thou'dst shlver'd like an egg. Shalt., Lear, Iv. 6. 60. 
2. To make haste ; hurry ; proceed without de- 
liberation. 
4678 
II. n. In client., any substance which, having 
been dissolved in a fluid, falls to the bottom of 
the vessel on the addition of some other sub- 
stance capable of producing decomposition of 
the Compound. The term IB generally applied when the 
separation takes place In a flocculent or pulverulent form, 
In opposition to crystallization, which Implies a like sep- 
aration In an angular form. But chemists call a mass of 
crystals a precipitate when they subside so suddenly that 
their proper crystalline shape cannot !< distinguished by 
the naked eye. Substances which fall or settle down, as 
earthy matter in water, are called seilimfnts, the operat- 
ing cause being mechanical and not chemical. Floccu- 
lent precipitate. Sec flocculent. Precipitate per Be 
red precipitate. Ked precipitate, red oxid of mercu- 
ry. Sweet precipitate, mercnrous chlorid or calo- 
mel. White precipitate, mercurammonlum chlorid, 
NHsHgCL Also called hydrargyrum ammoniatum, or 
amtnoniated mercury. 
precipitately (pre-sip'i-tat-li), adv. In a pre- 
cipitate manner; 'with sudden descent; head- 
long; hastily; without due deliberation; with 
a sudden subsiding motion. 
Ill-counsell'd force by Its own native weight precipitately 
falls. Francis, tr. of Horace's Odes, ill. 4. 
Driven to that state of mind In which we are more ready 
to act precipitately than to reason right 
Goldsmith, Vicar, xvlii. 
Not BO brave Arnall ; with a weight of skull, 
Furious he dives, precipitately dull. 
Pope, Dunclad, IL 316. 
precipitateness (pre-sip'i-tat-nes), n. The state 
or character of being precipitate; precipita- 
tion; hastiness. 
precipitation (pre-sip-i-ta'shon), n. [= OF. 
precipitation, F. precipitation "= Sp. precipita- 
tion = Pg. precipitacao = It. precipitasione, < 
lt.prtsotpitaao(n-), a falling headlong, headlong 
haste, < prsecipitarc, pp. prtecimtatus, cast down 
headlong: see precipitate.'} 1. The act of cast- 
ing down from a height, or the state of being 
flung or hurled downward. 
We . . . banish him our city, 
In peril ol precipitation 
From off the rock Tarpelan, never more 
To enter our Rome gates. Shot., Cor., ill. 8. 102. 
2. Rapid motion; a hurrying or rushing on- 
ward. 
That could never happen from any other cause than the 
hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water, re- 
turning, at the end of the deluge, towards the sea. 
Woodward, Nat Hist. 
Pacing along Cheapside with my accustomed precipita- 
tion when I walk westward. Lamb, Chimney-sweepers. 
3. Haste ; hurry ; unwise or rash rapidity. 
Precipitation in our works makes us unlike to God. 
Heady fool, art thou wiser than thy Maker? 
Rn. T. Adams, Works, III. 119. 
We were forced to eat with great precipitation, having 
received advice of General Carpenter's march as we were 
at dinner. Addison, Freeholder, No. 3. 
Precipitation, . . . incited by the pride of intellectual 
superiority, Is very fatal to great designs. 
Johnson, Rambler, No. 43. 
4. In chem., the process by which any substance 
is made to separate from another or others in 
solution, and fall to the bottom. 5. Moisture 
from the atmosphere deposited on the earth's 
__!__.*_ __^_. I . > m 
precise 
method of purifying water Is used by dyers, and also In 
fl ttlng hard water 'or in steam-boilers. 
The mother-liquor Is conducted through the pipe for 
him to precipitate and assail them. ' Bacon. 
3. In chem., to separate from a solution as a 
precipitate. 
precipitate (pre-sip'i-tat), a. and n. [< L.pra>- 
cipitatus, pp.: see the verb.] I. a. 1. Hurled 
headlong; plunging or rushing down, as by a 
steep descent ; headlong. 
Precipitate the furious Torrent flows. Prior, Solomon, IL 
Disparting towers, 
Tumbling all precipitate down dash'd, 
Rattling around, loud thundering to the moon. 
,/. Ilyer, Ruins of Rome. 
2f. Steep; precipitous. 
No cliff or rock Is BO precipitate 
But down It eyes can lead the blind a way. 
Lord Itrookc, Tragedy of Alaham. (Latham.) 
3. Hasty; acting without due deliberation; 
rash. 
Roles to be observed in choosing of a wife, . . not to 
be too rash tint precipitate In bis election. 
Burton, Anat of Mel., p. 587. 
I fear I bare already been too precipitate. I tremble for 
the consequences. Common, Jealous Wife, li 
4. Hastily brought to pass; speedy; hurried; 
sudden. 
His downfall too will not be more precipitate than awk- 
w rd - Pot, Prose Tale, I. 280. 
The danger of ^precipitate abandonment of Virginia con- 
tinued to be Imminent, llaturofl, Hist. U. S., I. 100, 
-Syn. 3 and 4. Precipitous now always ixpresaes the 
physical attribute of a headlong steepness ; precipitate the 
moral quality of being very hasty or overhasty. Other 
Dies an obsolete or figurative. 
Workshop Jicccipts, 2d sur., p. 360. 
precipitionst (pres-i-pish'us), a. [< L. prcripi- 
tiiini, a precipice (see precipice), + -ous. Cf. 
precipitous.'] Precipitous. 
I perswaded him fairly ... to keep them from any such 
precipitious and impertinent rupture as might preclude 
all meditation of accord. Sir U. Wotton, KeliqnUe, p. 288. 
The descent was precipitious : so that, save by ragged 
steps, and those not a little dangerous, [there) was no rid- 
ing down. Sir T. Herbert, Travels, p. 152. (iMtham.) 
precipitiouslyt (pres-i-pish'us-li), adv. Pre- 
cipitously. 
Headlong riot precipiciously will on, wherever strong 
desire shall drive, or flattering lust allure. 
Decay of Christian Piety, p. 174. 
precipitous (pre-sip'i-tus), a. [< OF. precipi- 
teux, y.precipitcux = Sp. Pg. It. precipitoso ; as 
L. prteceps (-ctpit-), head foremost, headlong 
(Bee precipice), + -ous. Cf. precipitious. ] 1. 
Headlong ; descending rapidly, or rushing on- 
ward. 
The sweep 
Of some precipitous rivulet to the wave. 
Tennyson, Enoch Arden. 
2. Steep; like a precipice; consisting of preci- 
pices: as, precipitous cliffs. 
Tangled swamps and deep precipitous dells. 
Shelley, Alastor. 
3f. Hasty; rash; precipitate. 
She (Nature] nseth to act by due and orderly gradations, 
and takes no precipitous leaps from one extream to another. 
('Imirillf, Pre-exlstence of Souls, xUi. 
Thus framed for ill, he loosed our triple hold 
(Advice unsafe, precipitous, and bold). 
Dryden, The Medal, 1. 65. 
4f. Hastily appearing or passing; sudden. 
How precious the time is, how precipitous the occasion, 
how many things to be done in their just season. 
Ecclyn, C'alendariuui Hortcnsc, Int 
= Syn. 1 and 2. See precipitate, a. 
precipitously (pre-sip'i-tus-li), atlr. 1. In a 
precipitous manner; with sudden descent; in 
violent haste. 
Till the victim hear within and yearn to hurry precipi- 
tously 
Like the leaf In a roaring whirlwind, like the smoke In a 
hurricane whirl'd. Tennyson, Boadicea. 
2f. Hastily; with precipitation; precipitately. 
Some . . . precipitously conclude they [chameleons] eat 
not any at all. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., ill. 21. 
precipitousness (pre-sip'i-tus-nes), n. 1. The 
state or quality of being precipitous or steep ; 
steepness. 2. Hastiness; precipitation ; rash 
haste. 
As simplicity ordinarily signifies sencelcssness, precipi. 
towmcs*, as Trismegistus defines it, pariac tliot, a species 
of madness in one place, and nt ti"t, a kind of drunken- 
ness In another, a wild irrational acting. 
Hammond, Works, IV. lit 
precis (pra-se'), n. [F., an abstract, < L. prie- 
cisitm, a piece cut off (ML. also i 
sleet, hail, etc. 
It (visibility) Is no doubt, to some extent, the effect of 
previous rains, the precipitation having washed the atmo- 
sphere of its dust 
Her. W. C. Ley, In Modern Meteorology, p. 128. 
Precipitation process, In the smelting of lead. See pro- 
".=Syn.l. See list under precipitancy. Precipitancy Is 
Iwws a quality ; precipitation Is primarily an act, but 
may be a quality. 
precipitative (pre-sip'i-ta-tiy), a. [<precipitate 
+ -ire.] Pertaining to precipitation ; tending 
to precipitate. 
The precipitative tendencies of tidal action may exceed 
those resulting from resistances encountered in planetary 
pace. WincheU, World-Life, p. 491. 
precipitator (pre-sip'i-ta-tor), n. [= It. pre- 
ripitatore, < L. 'prycipitator, one who over- 
throws, < prtrcipitatus, pp. of prxcinitarc, cast 
down headlong: see precipitate.'} 1. One who 
precipitates; especially, one who urges on with 
undue haste ; one who rashly brings to pass. 
Zelota, . . . asitprov'd, [were] the hast'ners and pmctpi- 
tators of the destruction of that kingdom. 
liammond, Works, IV. 590. 
2. That which brings about the precipitation 
or downfall of atmospheric moisture. 
For the slopes of elevations towards the sea are great 
precipitators of rein. The American, XI. 166. 
3. That which causes or favors chemical ]>rc- 
ripitation; an apparatus for inducing precipi- 
tation. Specifically, a tank in which carbonates held in 
solution by free carbonic acid In water arc precipitated 
by caustic lime, which neutralize* the free carbonic acid 
and permits the carbonates to fall to the bottom. This 
concise statement ; a summary; an abstract. 
Any gentlemen who are willing to co-operate are re- 
quested to send In their names, and In return they will be 
supplied with a prfeii of the case. 
Fortnightly Km., N. S., XL. 45. 
Contrast the newspaper precis of some Important nego- 
tiation and the Blue Book there is the duf crence at a 
glance. Contemporary Urn., XLIX. 669. 
2. The act or process of drawing up a pr6cis 
or abstract. 
precise (pre-sis'), a. [< ME. "precis(in adv."pre- 
i-i.il i/, pcrcysly), < OF. precis, m., precise, f., F. 
precis = Sp. Pg. It. prcciso, cut off, definite, 
precise, strict, < L. prsecisus, cut short, short- 
ened, brief, pp. of prtecidere, cut off in front, 
cut short, abridge, < prx, before, + cfedere, cut. 
Ct. concise.] 1. Definite; exact; neithermore 
nor less than ; just, with no error. 
I know not well what they are : but precise villains they 
are, that I am sure of. Shot., M. for M., II. 1. 54. 
What special hlndcren the Apostle means, we shall 
have precise occasion in some future passages to demon- 
strate. Rev. T. Adams,, Works, II. 338. 
End all dispute, and fix the year precise 
When British bards begin to Immortalise. 
Pope, Imlt. of Horace, II. 1. 58. 
2. Exactly stated, defined, marked off, or mea- 
sured, etc. ; strictly expressed, stated, etc. 
John Villanl has given us an ample and precise account 
of the state of Florrln-e In the airly part cif I lie fourteenth 
'enlnry. Mocaulay, Machlavelll. 
Not a Christian thought exists which must go outside 
of the English tongue for a clear, precise, forcible utter- 
ance. A. Phelps, English Style, p. 55. 
