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precipice Definition

preci·pice (presə pis)

noun

  1. a vertical, almost vertical, or overhanging rock face; steep cliff
  2. a greatly hazardous situation, verging on disaster

Etymology: Fr précipice < L praecipitium < praeceps, headlong < prae-, before (see pre-) + caput, head (see chief)

precipice Synonyms

precipice

n.

precipice Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • climb: At 1345 they finally climbed the last precipice and stood on the summit of Pelvoux.
  • uncover: The Nobel academy said Pinter's work " uncovers the precipice under everyday prattle and forces entry into oppression's closed rooms " .
  • face: I was no longer giddy, and faced the precipice of 3500 feet without a shiver.
  • frown: I now seem to be borne along on the tide of a tempestuous torrent, through rocky defiles and beneath frowning precipices.
  • skirt: It leads from Loch Kishorn through ascending hairpin bends and skirts steep precipices on its way.

Adjective modifier

  • Malthusian: Land Resources: on the edge of the Malthusian precipice?
  • rocky: Rocky precipices drop almost 100 meters to the ocean.
  • sheer: Below them was a sheer precipice several hundred feet in depth.
  • steep: To mix a couple of metaphors, the time bomb is ticking and we stand on the edge of a very steep precipice.
  • high: They have a real giddy horror of stars and seas, as a man has on the edge of a hopelessly high precipice.
  • great: On the latter side, as well as to the former, there was a great precipice.

Preposition: on

side: We descended these high wouls by a steep and hazardous precipice on one Side and y e way narrow.

Modifies a noun

bond: Capita Trust, part of Capita Group plc, has been fined £ 300,000 for the mis-selling of precipice bonds.

Preposition: of

relegation: But they took a major stride back from the precipice of relegation last night.

Noun used with modifier

debt: Borrowing: One in five of us are facing the debt precipice.