-rēəs adjective
Etymology: Latin precarius obtained by entreaty or prayer, obtained by mere favor, doubtful, uncertain — more at prayer
1. archaic : depending on the will or pleasure of another : held on sufferance : liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another
2. : dependent upon uncertain premises : dubious
3. obsolete : importunate , begging
4.
a. : dependent on chance circumstances, unknown conditions, or uncertain developments : uncertain
unfavorable weather … and too great dependence on a single precarious crop do not bring disaster as they once did — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington
b. : characterized by a lack of security or stability that threatens with danger
the precarious safety of an ice floe — G. de Q. Robin
faced trouble inside his precarious four-party coalition government — Time
5. : precarial
Synonyms: see dangerous