praeceps

Latin

Etymology

From prae (“before”) +‎ -ceps (“headed”).

Pronunciation
  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈprae̯.keps/, [ˈprae̯.kɛps]

Adjective

praeceps (genitive praecipitis); third declension

  1. head first, headlong
  2. steep, precipitous
  3. (figuratively) hasty, rash, precipitate

Inflection

Third declension.

Number Singular Plural
Case / Gender Masc./Fem. Neuter Masc./Fem. Neuter
Nominative praeceps praecipitēs praecipitia
Genitive praecipitis praecipitium
Dative praecipitī praecipitibus
Accusative praecipitem praeceps praecipitēs praecipitia
Ablative praecipitī praecipitibus
Vocative praeceps praecipitēs praecipitia

Derived terms

Descendants

Adverb

praeceps (not comparable)

  1. headlong

Noun

praeceps n (genitive praecipitis); third declension

  1. a precipice, steep place
  2. extreme danger

Inflection

Third declension neuter.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative praeceps praecipita
Genitive praecipitis praecipitum
Dative praecipitī praecipitibus
Accusative praeceps praecipita
Ablative praecipite praecipitibus
Vocative praeceps praecipita

Descendants

References
  • praeceps in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • praeceps in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • praeceps in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
  • Carl Meissner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎, London: Macmillan and Co.
    • to fall down headlong: praecipitem ire; in praeceps deferri
    • to bring a man to ruin; to destroy: aliquem affligere, perdere, pessumdare, in praeceps dare
    • to be ruined, undone: praecipitem agi, ire
    • to be short-tempered; to be prone to anger: praecipitem in iram esse (Liv. 23. 7)
    • to be carried away by something: praecipitem ferri aliqua re (Verr. 5. 46. 121)
    • headlong flight: fuga effusa, praeceps (Liv. 30. 5)
    • to flee headlong: praecipitem se fugae mandare
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