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precipitant

[pri-sip-i-tuh nt]
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adjective
  1. falling headlong.
  2. rushing headlong, rapidly, or hastily onward.
  3. hasty; rash.
  4. unduly sudden or abrupt.
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noun
  1. Chemistry. anything that causes precipitation.
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Origin of precipitant

1600–10; < Latin praecipitant- (stem of praecipitāns), present participle of praecipitāre to cast down headlong. See precipitate, -ant
Related formspre·cip·i·tant·ly, adverbun·pre·cip·i·tant, adjectiveun·pre·cip·i·tant·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

harum-scarumboldirrationalmadcapwildprecipitatedaringquickjerkyrushingadventurousaudaciousbrashdetermineddevil-may-carefieryfoolhardyfrenziedfuriousharebrained

Examples from the Web for precipitant

Historical Examples

  • The Ph. Grca orders infusion of galls to be used as the precipitant.

    Cooley's Practical Receipts, Volume II

    Arnold Cooley

  • The degree of separation of water (spent lye) depends upon the amount of precipitant used.

  • However, the appearance of the new arrival greatly modified the unfavorable impression produced by his precipitant action.

  • Potassium hydrate and ammonia give black grey or black precipitates, which are insoluble in excess of the precipitant.

  • Ammonia gives a similar precipitate, which is soluble in excess of the precipitant.

British Dictionary definitions for precipitant

precipitant

adjective
  1. hasty or impulsive; rash
  2. rushing or falling rapidly or without heed
  3. abrupt or sudden
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noun
  1. chem a substance or agent that causes a precipitate to form
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Derived Formsprecipitance or precipitancy, nounprecipitantly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for precipitant

adj.

1610s, from Latin precipitantem, present participle of praecipitare (see precipitate (v.)). As a noun in chemistry from 1680s. The adjective senses now are taken by precipitate (adj.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
precipitant in Medicine

precipitant

(prĭ-sĭp′ĭ-tənt)
n.
  1. A substance that causes a precipitate to form when it is added to a solution.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.