Oxford Dictionary English

    precipitous

    adjective
    adjective
    BrE BrE//prɪˈsɪpɪtəs//
    ; NAmE NAmE//prɪˈsɪpɪtəs//
    (formal)
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  1. 1very steep, high and often dangerous synonym sheer precipitous cliffs a precipitous drop at the side of the road
  2. 2sudden and great synonym abrupt a precipitous decline in exports
  3. 3done very quickly, without enough thought or care synonym hasty a precipitous action
    4.  Word Originmid 17th cent.: from obsolete French précipiteux, from Latin praeceps, praecip(it)- ‘steep, headlong’, from prae ‘before’ + caput ‘head’.
See precipitous in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishSee precipitous in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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