ˌpreshēˈäsəd.ē, -sətē, -i sometimes -esē- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English preciousite, preciosite preciousness, from Middle French precieusité, preciosité, from Latin pretiositat-, pretiositas, from pretiosus + -itat-, -itas -ity
1. archaic : something precious
2.
[French préciosité, from Middle French precieusité, preciosité preciousness]
a. : fastidious or excessive refinement (as in language)
he had the fastidiousness, the preciosity , the love of archaisms, of your true decadent — R.L.Douglas
specifically : the affected purism and sententiousness characteristic of the French précieuses of the 17th century
b. : an instance of preciosity
uttering obtuse and outmoded preciosities