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Webster 1913 Edition

Precious

Pre′cious

,
Adj.
[OF.
precious
,
precius
,
precios
, F.
précieux
, 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.
Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.
3.
Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf.
Précieuse
,
Preciosity
.
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Precious

PRE'CIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. pretiosus, from pretium, price. See Praise.]
1.
Of great price; costly; as a precious stone.
2.
Of great value or worth; very valuable.
She is more precious than rubies. Prov.3.
3.
Highly valued; much esteemed.
The word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 1 Sam.3.
4.
Worthless; in irony and contempt.
Precious metals, gold and silver, so called on account of their value.

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