Hypertext Webster Gateway: "precipitously"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Precipitous \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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
precipitously
adv 1: very suddenly and to a great degree; "conditions that
precipitously increase the birthrate"; "prices rose
sharply" [syn: {sharply}]
2: abruptly; in a precipitous manner; "the mountains rose
precipitously from the shore"
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