pre´vi|ous|ness

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• pre|co´cious|ness — pre|co|cious «prih KOH shuhs», adjective. 1. developed earlier than usual in knowledge, skill, or the like: »This very precocious child could read well at the age of four. 2. developed too early; occurring before the natural time: »a precocious… …   Useful english dictionary

• pre|ten´tious|ness — pre|ten|tious «prih TEHN shuhs», adjective. 1. making claims to excellence or importance: »a pretentious person, a pretentious book, a pretentious speech. 2. doing things for show or to make a fine appearance; showy; ostentatious: »a pretentious… …   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|pos´ter|ous|ness — pre|pos|ter|ous «prih POS tuhr uhs, truhs», adjective. against nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; foolish: »It would be preposterous to shovel snow with a teaspoon. That the moon is made of green cheese is a preposterous notion.… …   Useful english dictionary

• pre|sump´tu|ous|ness — pre|sump|tu|ous «prih ZUHMP chu uhs», adjective. 1. acting without permission or right; too bold; forward; daring too much: »But it is presumptuous and untrue to insist that God must back us up whatever we do (Atlantic). SYNONYM(S): overbold,… …   Useful english dictionary

• ness — ness·ber·ry; ness·ler·iza·tion; ness·ler·ize; ness·ler s; new·fan·gled·ness; new·ness; news·i·ness; nice·ness; nig·gard·li·ness; nig·gard·ness; nigh·ness; nip·pi·ness; no·ble·ness; nois·i·ness; non·cha·lant·ness; north·er·li·ness; north·ness;… …   English syllables

• 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

• 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 …   Useful english dictionary

• 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