Precipice Meaning
/ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA very steep cliff.
nounThe brink of a dangerous situation.
Sentence Examples
Another step, and you will fall down the precipice.
The climber stayed alert while climbing the precipice.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He stood at the edge of the ____, looking down at the deep valley below.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hiker stood at the edge of the ____ and looked down at the valley hundreds of meters below.
Word Origin & History
First attested in 1598, from Middle French precipice, from Latin praecipitium (“a steep place”), from praeceps (“steep”), from prae + caput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“head”). Distantly related to precept through Latin praecipiō (“to teach”), from prae + capiō (“take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-, *keh₂p- (“to hold; to seize”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I resolved to remove my tent from the place where it stood, which was just under the hanging precipice of the hill; and which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my tent[…]"
— 1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:
"In emailed comments supporting the new initiative, the laureate professor Noam Chomsky said: “Humans are marching towards a precipice. When we reach it, unthinkable catastrophe is inevitable. […]”"
— 2022 September 14, Arthur Neslen, quoting Noam Chomsky, “Health groups call for global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty”, in The Guardian:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He stood at the edge of the ____, looking down at the deep valley below.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The hiker stood at the edge of the ____ and looked down at the valley hundreds of meters below.