Where does “precipitously” come from?
Precipitously derives from English precipitous, from French précipiteux, from Latin praecipitosus, from Proto-Germanic galīkaz and -līkaz, from Proto-Indo-European līg- and ḱóm.
precipitously (English): abruptly; in a precipitous manner
Definitions
- abruptly; in a precipitous manner
Ancestry of “precipitously”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | precipitous | Steep, like a precipice; Headlong; Hasty; rash;... |
| 2 | French | précipiteux | — |
| 3 | Latin | praecipitosus | — |
| 4 | Latin | praeceps | head first, headlong; steep, precipitous; hasty,... |
| 5 | Latin | -ceps | -headed; -fold; -catcher |
| 6 | Old Latin | -cipes | "third declension"; Alternative form of -ceps;... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -kaputis | -headed |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | kaput | head |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | káput | head |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | kap- | to seize, hold |