- Precariously
- Precarious Pre*ca"ri*ous, a. [L. precarius obtained by begging
or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another,
fr. precari to pray, beg. See {Pray}.]
1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by
courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of
another; as, precarious privileges. --Addison.
[1913 Webster]
2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. ``Intervals of partial and precarious liberty.'' --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
Syn: Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal.
Usage: {Precarious}, {Uncertain}. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified ``granted to entreaty,'' and, hence, ``wholly dependent on the will of another.'' Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties. [1913 Webster] -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly}, adv. -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.