Dictionary entry

Precipitate

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Pre‐cip″i‐tate (?), a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See Precipice.] 1. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.

2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the time; as, a precipitate measure. “The rapidity of our too precipitate course.” Landor.

3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent; headlong.

Precipitate the furious torrent flows. Prior.

4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a precipitate case of disease. Arbuthnot.