precedent(PRE si DINT) n. 1. an earlier decision, judgment, act of law, case,
etc. that serves as an example for a later one; 2. something done based on earlier
events —adj. that precedes; preceding
- The right of the Supreme Court to pass on a law’s constitutionality was
established by precedent. - Many court decisions are based on precedent.
- It is chivalrous to give women and children precedentover men when aban-
doning ship.
precept (PREE sept) n. 1. a rule of moral conduct; maxim; 2. a commandment
or directive meant as a rule of conduct - Justice for all is a preceptof American democracy.
- Not watching while a sausage is being made is a preceptof enjoying eating
that sausage.
[Syn. doctrine]
precipitate*(pri SIP it AYT) vt. 1. to cause to happen before expected or
desired; to hasten; 2. (chemistry) to make something insoluble so that it separates
from a solution —n.(chemistry) a solid separated from a solution - The invasion of Poland precipitatedEngland’s entry into World War II.
- It took a weight gain of 10 pounds to precipitateMelissa’s going on a diet.
- Sodium chloride can be precipitatedout of solution by adding the right
chemical, but don’t ask me which. - Silver chloride coming out of solution appears as grayish flakes of precipitate.
[-d, precipitating, precipitation n.]
precise (pri CYS) adj. 1. accurately said; exactly defined; 2. speaking distinctly;
- without variation; 4. scrupulous; fastidious
- Be precisein what you say, and your words won’t be misinterpreted.
- The opposite of precisespeaking is mumbling.
- An atomic clock is more precisethan anybody has a practical use for.
- A surgeon must be precisein her attention to keeping a sterile field.
[-ly adv., precision n.] [Syn. explicit, correct]
preclude*(pree KLOOD) vt. to make impossible; to cut out of the realm of pos-
sibilities; to prevent - Having been scratched from the field of 12 horses in the race precludesany
possibility of How About That’s finishing in the money. - The drawbridge’s being stuck open precludedany chance of Iggy’s getting to
work early yesterday.
[-d, precluding] [Syn. prevent]
188 Essential Vocabulary