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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Precipice


PREC'IPICE, noun [Latin proecipitium, from proeceps, headlong; proe, forward, and ceps, for caput, head. See Chief.]

1. Strictly, a falling headlong; hence, a steep descent of land; a fall or descent of land, perpendicular or nearly so.

Where wealth, like fruit, on precipices grew.

2. A steep descent, in general.

In the breaking of the waves there is ever a precipice

Swift down the precipice of time it goes.