Hypertext Webster Gateway: "precious"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Precious \Pre"cious\, a.
Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf.
{Pr['e]cieuse}, {Preciosity}.
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. --Chaucer.
Elaborate embroidery of precious language.
--Saintsbury.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Precious \Pre"cious\, a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F.
pr['e]cieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value.
See {Price}.]
1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. ``The
precious bane.'' --Milton.
2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed;
dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.
She is more precious than rules. --Prov. iii.
15.
Many things which are most precious are neglected
only because the value of them lieth hid. --Hooker.
Note: Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.
3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. --Chaucer.
{Precious metals}, the uncommon and highly valuable metals,
esp. gold and silver.
{Precious stones}, gems; jewels.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
precious
adj 1: characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for; "a
cherished friend"; "children are precious"; "a
treasured heirloom"; "so good to feel wanted" [syn: {cherished},
{treasured}, {wanted}]
2: of high worth or cost; "diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and
emeralds are precious stones"
3: obviously contrived to charm; "an insufferably precious
performance"; "a child with intolerably cute mannerisms"
[syn: {cute}]
adv : (intensifier) extremely; "there is precious little time
left" [syn: {preciously}]
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