precipice: [16] The etymological notion underlying precipice is of falling ‘headlong’. It comes via French précipice from Latin praecipitium ‘headlong fall, steep place’. This was derived from praecipitāre ‘throw headlong’ (source of English precipitate [16] and precipitous [17]), a verb based on the adjective praeceps ‘headlong, steep’. This in turn was a compound formed from the prefix prae- ‘in front’ and caput ‘head’ (source of English capital, captain, etc). => capital, captain, chief
precipice (n.)
"steep face of rock," 1630s, from Middle French précipice, from Latin praecipitium "a steep place," literally "a fall or leap," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (see head (n.)). Earlier in English as a verb (1590s) meaning "fall to great depth."
实用例句
1. The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.
那间小屋有一半悬在峭壁边上.
来自《简明英汉词典》
2. They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice.
他们离悬崖边很近,十分危险.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.
在这悬崖上稍一疏忽,就会使人丧生.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. Watching him climb up the precipice, everybody was breathless with anxiety.
