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precise

[pri-sahys]
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adjective
  1. definitely or strictly stated, defined, or fixed: precise directions.
  2. being exactly that and neither more nor less: a precise temperature; a precise amount.
  3. being just that and no other: the precise dress she had wanted.
  4. definite or exact in statement, as a person.
  5. carefully distinct: precise articulation.
  6. exact in measuring, recording, etc.: a precise instrument.
  7. excessively or rigidly particular: precise observance of regulations; precise grooming.
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Origin of precise

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin praecīsus curtailed, brief, orig. past participle of praecīdere to cut off, cut short, equivalent to prae- pre- + -cīsus, combining form of caesus, past participle of caedere to cut
Related formspre·cise·ly, adverbpre·cise·ness, nouno·ver·pre·cise, adjectiveo·ver·pre·cise·ly, adverbo·ver·pre·cise·ness, nounsu·per·pre·cise, adjectivesu·per·pre·cise·ly, adverbsu·per·pre·cise·ness, nounul·tra·pre·cise, adjectiveun·pre·cise, adjectiveun·pre·cise·ly, adverbun·pre·cise·ness, noun
Can be confusedprécis precise

Synonyms

See more synonyms for precise on Thesaurus.com
1. explicit.

Synonym study

1. See correct.

Antonyms

1. indefinite, vague.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for preciseness

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • He spoke English with the preciseness of an educated foreigner.

    The Heads of Apex

    Francis Flagg

  • But this preciseness did not extend to the younger Alexander's choice of subjects.

  • The most graceful principle of dress is neatness—the most vulgar is preciseness.

    Pelham, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • Summersby took his hand; it was dry and had a preciseness about its grip that irritated him.

    The Enormous Room

    Horace Leonard Gold

  • He would be struck with the preciseness, the correct air of the man.

    English Costume

    Dion Clayton Calthrop

British Dictionary definitions for preciseness

precise

adjective
  1. strictly correct in amount or valuea precise sum
  2. designating a certain thing and no other; particularthis precise location
  3. using or operating with total accuracyprecise instruments
  4. strict in observance of rules, standards, etca precise mind
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Derived Formspreciseness, noun

Word Origin

C16: from French précis, from Latin praecīdere to curtail, from prae before + caedere to cut
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 preciseness

n.

"precision," 1560s, from precise + -ness.

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precise

adj.

mid-15c., from Middle French précis "condensed, cut short" (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin precisus, from Latin praecisus "abrupt, abridged, cut off," past participle of praecidere "to cut off, shorten," from prae "before" (see pre-) + caedere "to cut" (see -cide; for Latin vowel change, see acquisition). Related: Precisely (late 14c.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper