[pre.cious] adj [ME, fr. MF precios, fr. L pretiosus, fr. pretium price--more at price] (13c) 1: of great value or high price
2: highly esteemed or cherished
3: excessively refined: affected
4: great, thoroughgoing "~ scoundrel" -- pre.cious.ness n
[2]precious adv (1595): very, extremely "has ~ little to say"