Precious stones

Precious stones
Precious Pre"cious, a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. pr['e]cieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See {Price}.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. ``The precious bane.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections. [1913 Webster]

She is more precious than rules. --Prov. iii. 15. [1913 Webster]

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

Note: Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal. [1913 Webster]

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. {Pr['e]cieuse}, {Preciosity}. [1913 Webster]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Elaborate embroidery of precious language. --Saintsbury. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Precious metals}, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver.

{Precious stones}, gems; jewels. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • precious stones —    Lapidaries, i.e. treatises on the virtues of precious and semi precious stones, circulated throughout medieval and Renaissance Europe. Some writers dealt only with their supposed curative properties; others said they had a moral influence too …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Precious Stones in the Bible —     Precious Stones in the Bible     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Precious Stones in the Bible     Precious stones are stones remarkable for their colour, brilliancy, or rarity. Such stones have at all times been held in high esteem everywhere,… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • PRECIOUS STONES AND JEWELRY — In the Bible Precious stones are mentioned in various contexts in the Bible, the most comprehensive list appearing in the description of the breastpiece worn by the high priest. The breastpiece was set with 12 precious stones arranged in four… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • precious stones — valuable stones, good jewels, costly jewels …   English contemporary dictionary

  • precious stones — Jewels, gems …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones — Infobox short story name = Time Considered as a Helix of Semi Precious Stones title orig = translator = author = Samuel R. Delany country = language = series = genre = Science Fiction published in = publication type = publisher = media type = pub …   Wikipedia

  • Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones - The BBC Sessions 1979-1984 — Infobox Album Name = Time Considered As A Helix Of Semi Precious Stones – The BBC Sessions 1979 1984 Type = studio Longtype = Artist = Comsat Angels Released = 1992, reissued in 2006. Recorded = 1979 1984 Genre = Post punk Length = 1:14:25 Label …   Wikipedia

  • Precious — Pre cious, a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. pr[ e]cieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See {Price}.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. The precious bane. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Of great value or worth;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Precious metals — Precious Pre cious, a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. pr[ e]cieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See {Price}.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. The precious bane. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Of great value or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • precious stone — precious stones N COUNT A precious stone is a valuable stone, such as a diamond or a ruby, that is used for making jewellery. Syn: gem, jewel …   English dictionary

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