precious
pronunciation
How to pronounce precious in British English:
UK [ˈpreʃəs]
How to pronounce precious in American English:
US [ˈpreʃəs]
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- Adjective:
- characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
- of high worth or cost
- obviously contrived to charm
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- Adverb:
- extremely
Word Origin
- precious
- precious: [13] Latin pretiōsus ‘expensive, valuable, precious’ was derived from pretium ‘price’ (source of English praise, price, and prize). English acquired it via Old French precios. The sense ‘affected’ was introduced from French in the early 18th century.=> praise, price, prize
- precious (adj.)
- mid-13c., from Old French precios "precious, costly, honorable, of great worth" (11c., Modern French précieux), from Latin pretiosus "costly, valuable," from pretium "value, worth, price" (see price (n.)). Meaning "over-refined" in English first recorded late 14c. In Johnson's day, it also had a secondary inverted sense of "worthless." Related: Preciously; preciousness.
- precious (n.)
- "beloved or dear person or object," 1706, from precious (adj.).
Antonym
Example
- 1. We cannot afford to lose our most precious resource : talent , " the letter stated .
- 2. Restrictions on the sale of petrochemicals , gold and other precious metals were also lifted .
- 3. And then there 's platinum , a precious metal that also has industrial uses .
- 4. Why I had lost the most precious thing ?
- 5. Corporate reputation is a precious resource .