precipitous

pre·cip·i·tous  (pr-sp-ts)

adj.

1. Resembling a precipice; extremely steep. See Synonyms at steep¹.

2. Having several precipices: a precipitous bluff.

3. Usage Problem Extremely rapid, hasty, or abrupt; precipitate: "The change has included a precipitous collapse of Communist authority" New York Times. See Usage Note at precipitate.

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[Probably from obsolete precipitious, from Latin praecipitium, precipice; see precipice.]

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pre·cipi·tous·ly adv.

pre·cipi·tous·ness n.

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precipitous

Adjective

1. very steep: precipitous cliffs

2. very quick and severe: a precipitous decline

3. rapid and unplanned; hasty: European governments urged the Americans not to make a precipitous decision

USAGE: The use of precipitous to mean hasty is thought by some people to be incorrect.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	precipitous - done with very great haste and without due deliberation; "hasty marriage seldom proveth well"- Shakespeare; "hasty makeshifts take the place of planning"- Arthur Geddes; "rejected what was regarded as an overhasty plan for reconversion"; "wondered whether they had been rather precipitate in deposing the king" overhasty, precipitant, precipitate, hasty hurried - moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste; "a hurried trip to the store"; "the hurried life of a city"; "a hurried job"
	2.	precipitous - extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop" abrupt, sharp steep - having a sharp inclination; "the steep attic stairs"; "steep cliffs"

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precipitous

adjective 1. sheer, high, steep, dizzy, abrupt, perpendicular, falling sharply

adjective 2. hasty, sudden, hurried, precipitate, abrupt, harum-scarum

USAGE Some people think the use of precipitous to mean `hasty' is incorrect, and that precipitate should be used instead.

Translations

precipitous [prɪˈsɪpɪtəs] adj (= steep) → escarpado (= hasty); precipitado

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precipitous [prɪˈsɪpɪtəs] adj (= steep) → abrupt(e) → à pic

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precipitous [prɪˈsɪpɪtəs] precipice adj (= steep) → steil (= hasty); übereilt

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precipitous [prɪˈsɪpɪtəs] adj (= steep) → erto/a, ripido/a