pre|car´i|ous|ly

pre|car´i|ous|ly
pre|car|i|ous «prih KAIR ee uhs», adjective.
1. not safe or secure; uncertain; dangerous; risky: »

Soldiers on the battlefield lead a precarious life. His poor hold on the branch was precarious. His power was more precarious than…he was willing to admit (Scott).

 SYNONYM(S): perilous, hazardous.
2. dependent on chance or circumstance.
3. poorly founded; doubtful; assumed: »

a precarious opinion or conclusion.

╂[< Latin precārius (with English -ous) obtainable by entreaty; dependent on another's will, uncertain < prex, precis prayer]
–pre|car´i|ous|ly, adverb.
–pre|car´i|ous|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pre|car|i|ous — «prih KAIR ee uhs», adjective. 1. not safe or secure; uncertain; dangerous; risky: »Soldiers on the battlefield lead a precarious life. His poor hold on the branch was precarious. His power was more precarious than…he was willing to admit (Scott) …   Useful english dictionary

  • pre|car´i|ous|ness — pre|car|i|ous «prih KAIR ee uhs», adjective. 1. not safe or secure; uncertain; dangerous; risky: »Soldiers on the battlefield lead a precarious life. His poor hold on the branch was precarious. His power was more precarious than…he was willing to …   Useful english dictionary

  • pre·car·i·ous — …   Useful english dictionary

  • pre — pre·abdomen; pre·acanthella; pre·adamitism; pre·adapt; pre·adaptation; pre·adaptive; pre·admission; pre·adolescence; pre·adult; pre·agonal; pre·am·bu·lar; pre·am·bu·late; pre·amp; pre·amplifier; pre·animism; pre·apprehension; pre·arrange;… …   English syllables

  • ous — ovig·er·ous; ovu·lif·er·ous; ozon·if·er·ous; ozon·ous; pa·lav·er·ous; pal·la·dif·er·ous; pal·la·di·ous; pap·il·lif·er·ous; pap·u·lif·er·ous; par·ous; par·ri·cid·i·ous; pec·tin·ous; pe·dig·er·ous; pel·tig·er·ous; pen·tam·er·ous; pe·nu·ri·ous;… …   English syllables

  • precarious — pre·car·i·ous …   English syllables

  • precariously — pre·car·i·ous·ly …   English syllables

  • precarious — pre|car|i|ous [ prı keriəs ] adjective 1. ) likely to change or become dangerous without warning: a precarious future/situation/position/existence For the refugees life was always precarious. 2. ) not safe or likely to fall: Her position on the… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • precarious — pre•car•i•ous [[t]prɪˈkɛər i əs[/t]] adj. 1) dependent on circumstances beyond one s control; uncertain: a precarious livelihood[/ex] 2) dangerous because insecure or unsteady 3) based upon insufficient evidence 4) dependent on the will of… …   From formal English to slang

  • precarious — pre|car|i|ous [prıˈkeəriəs US ˈker ] adj [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: precarius got by asking, uncertain ] 1.) a precarious situation or state is one which may very easily or quickly become worse ▪ Her health remained precarious, despite… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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