precipitant
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /prɪˈsɪpɪt(ə)nt/
ipa: /priˈsɪpətənt/
ipa: /prə-/
ipa: [-ɾənt]
Forms: form: more precipitant
form: most precipitant
Etymology: The adjective is borrowed from Middle French précipitant, Old French precipitant (“acting hastily, hasty, rash; acting, happening, or moving rapidly; pressing”) (modern French précipitant), and from their etymon Late Latin praecipitans (“hasty, rash”), an adjective use of Latin praecipitāns, the present participle of praecipitō (“to cast down; to throw headlong”), from praeceps (“head first, headlong; (figurative) hasty, rash”) (from prae (“before; in front”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- (“before; in front”)) + -ceps (suffix meaning ‘having a head with specified characteristics’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“a head”))).
The adverb and noun are derived from the adjective.
Senses: examples: text: [T]heſe dreams the præcipitant and unskilfull are forvvard to conceit to be Repreſentations extraordinary and ſupernatural, vvhich they call Revelations or Viſions, of vvhich there can be no certainty at all no more then of a Dream.
ref: 1656, Philophilus Parresiastes [pseudonym; Henry More], Enthusiasmus Triumphatus, or, A Discourse of the Nature, Causes, Kinds, and Cure, of Enthusiasme; […], London: […] J[ames] Flesher, and are to be sold by W[illiam] Morden […], →OCLC, paragraph 27, page 27:
text: She had good Qualities—is generous—noble—but has ſtrong Paſſions, and is thoughtleſs and precipitant.
ref: 1742, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXXIV”, in Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume IV, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; and sold by J. Osborn, […]; and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 224:
synonyms: word: heedless
word: hotheaded
word: impetuous
word: daring
word: devil-may-care
word: headstrong
word: heedless
word: impetuous
word: imprudent
word: impulsive
word: precipitant
word: precipitate
word: precipitous
word: quick-and-dirty
word: rash
word: reckless
word: sudden
word: temeritous
glosses: Inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration; hasty, impulsive, rash.
examples: text: [W]ithout further pauſe / Down right into the Worlds firſt Region throws / His flight precipitant, and windes with eaſe / Through the pure marble Air his oblique way / Amongſt innumerable Starrs, […]
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 561–565:
text: [H]eedleſs vvhile they [the birds] ſtrain / Their tuneful Throats, the tovv'ring, heavy Lead [i.e., bullets] / O'er-takes their Speed; they leave their little Lives / Above the clouds, præcipitant to Earth.
ref: 1708, [John Philips], “Book II”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 59:
synonyms: precipitate
glosses: Of a fall: straight downwards; headlong.
examples: text: [W]ere the Aer copiouſly mixed vvith the Sap here, as in the Pith, Fruit, and other Parenchymous Parts; it vvould give ſo quick a Ferment to the Sap, as to dilate and amplify the Bladders of the Seed, beyond its preſent compact and durable Texture; and ſo expoſe it, either to a precipitant Grovvth, or ſudden Rot.
ref: 1676 November 19 (Gregorian calendar), Nehemiah Grew, “The Anatomy of Leaves, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. […] The Fourth Book. Chapter V. Of the Use of the Attire.”, in The Anatomy of Plants. […], [London]: […] W. Rawlins, for the author, published 1682, →OCLC, part II (The Anatomy of Flowers, […]), page 172:
text: Shou'd he return, that troop ſo blithe and bold, / VVith purple robes invvrought, and ſtiff vvith gold, / Precipitant in fear, vvou'd vving their flight, / And curſe their cumbrous pride's unvvieldy vveight.
ref: 1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 26, lines 211–214:
synonyms: word: cursory
word: express
word: fast
word: expeditious
word: feverish
word: fleet
word: fleeting
word: greased lightning
word: hasty
word: hectic
word: hectical
word: hyperactive
word: immediate
word: lightning fast
word: nimble
word: post haste
word: precipitant
word: quick
word: quick as a flash
word: quicksome
word: rapid
word: speedful
word: speedy
word: spit-spot
word: swift
word: tripsome
word: zippy
word: precipitous
word: abrupt
word: precipitant
word: precipitate
word: precipitous
word: spontaneous
word: subitaneous
word: sudden
word: suddent
antonyms: word: fast
word: speedy
glosses: Acting, happening, or moving quickly; fast, rapid, swift; also, abrupt, sudden, unexpected.
topics: chemistry
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
glosses: That causes precipitation (“formation of a heavier solid in a lighter liquid as a result of a chemical reaction”).
Derived terms: precipitance
precipitancy
precipitantly
precipitantness
Related terms: word: precipice
word: precipitate
word: precipitated
word: precipitately
word: precipitateness
word: precipitation
word: precipitous
word: precipitously
word: precipitousness