Pre‐cip″i‐tous (?), a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF. precipiteux. See Precipice.] 1. Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain.
2. Headlong; as, precipitous fall.
3. Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. Sir T. Browne. “Marian's low, precipitous ‘Hush!'” Mrs. Browning.
— Pre‐cip″i‐tous‐ly, adv. — Pre‐cip″i‐tous‐ness, n.