Noah Webster
Precious
PRE'CIOUS, adjective [Latin pretiosus, from pretium, price. See Praise.]
1. Of great price; costly; as a precious stone.
2. Of great value or worth; very valuable.
She is more precious than rubies. Proverbs 3:15.
3. Highly valued; much esteemed.
The word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 1 Samuel 3:1.
4. Worthless; in irony and contempt.
Precious metals, gold and silver, so called on account of their value.