precipice

[pres-uh-pis]

noun

1. a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face.

2. a situation of great peril.

   on the precipice of war.

precipice

/ ˈprɛsɪpɪs /

noun

1. 1. the steep sheer face of a cliff or crag

   2. the cliff or crag itself

2. a precarious situation

Other Word Forms

• precipiced adjective
• unprecipiced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipice¹

1590–1600; < Middle French < Latin praecipitium steep place, equivalent to praecipit- (stem of praeceps ) steep, headlong ( prae- pre- + -cipit-, combining form of caput head; caput ) + -ium -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipice¹

C16: from Latin praecipitium steep place, from praeceps headlong

Example Sentences

Only the second version includes the shepherd, who is directing his herd away from a dangerous precipice through which water flows from a dam generating power for the mill.

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But for all the expressions of outrage and talk of pressure, some veteran observers doubt Israel is on the edge of a diplomatic precipice.

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Three were seriously injured, one died from electrocution, and another convulsed so violently after being struck by lightning that he tumbled out of the cave and fell to his death from the 8,839-foot precipice.

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"I think we're right on the precipice of seeing all of those skeletons start to come to surface," she said, though it was not clear if she was referring specifically to Prince Andrew.

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One minute, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was on the precipice of a no-hitter, needing just one out to put his name in the record books.

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Related Words

• bluff 
• cliff 
• crag