Latin

Adjective

praeceps m, f, n ‎(genitive praecipitis); third declension

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

Inflection

Third declension.

Descendants

• English: precipitous

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.

Descendants

• English: precipice

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
• Félix Gaffiot (1934), “praeceps”, in Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Paris: Hachette.
• Meissner, Carl; Auden, Henry William (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