Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

precipitous

/pɹɪˈsɪpɪtəs/ adjective

In Latin: praeceps Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about precipitous at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Steep, like a precipice
a precipitous cliff
Headlong
a precipitous fall
Hasty; rash; quick; sudden
precipitous attempts

Origin

From obsolete French précipiteux, from Vulgar Latin *praecipitōsus, from praeceps, praecipit- (“ precipice”) + -ōsus (“-ful, -ous”), from prae- (“before”) + caput (“head”). Equivalent to precipice (“steep cliff, brink”) + -ous.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word