I. prēˈsipəˌtāt, prə̇ˈs-, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps headlong — more at precipice
transitive verb
1.
a. : to throw violently (as upon an object of attack) : hurl
in dismay he precipitates himself once more upon his task — Eric Blom
b. : to throw down
the Congo precipitates itself between the mountains, forming some thirty-two separate rapids and cataracts — Tom Marvel
precipitated himself into skepticism — Kingsley Price
2.
a. : to cause to move or act very rapidly : urge or press on with eager haste or violence
the completion of the railroad … precipitated the extinction of water-borne commerce — American Guide Series: Maine
b. : to cause to happen or come to a crisis suddenly, unexpectedly, or too soon : bring on quickly or abruptly
that the sudden withdrawal of alcohol from a chronic alcoholic may precipitate a delirium — Ency. Americana
the power of dissolving Congress and precipitating a national election — A.N.Holcombe
3.
a.
(1) : to cause to separate as a precipitate
water precipitates camphor from its alcoholic solution
(2) : to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
an ice-filled glass precipitates moisture from the air
b. : to give distinct or substantial form to : body forth
ward membership … may easily precipitate itself into many visible forms of behavior — Edward Sapir
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to fall headlong
b. : to descend steeply
c. : to fall or come suddenly into some condition (as ruin)
Fascism precipitated toward its agony — Cecil Sprigge
2. : to move or act precipitately
3. : to become separate or distinct : take material or observable form
this desire or tendency precipitates into observable motion whenever counteracting causes are removed — Arthur Pap
as
a. : to separate from a solution as a precipitate
b. : to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
Synonyms: see speed
II. -pəd.ə̇]t, -pətə̇], -pəˌtā], usu ]d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin praecipitatum, from Latin, neuter of praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare
1. : a substance separated from a solution in a concrete state as a result of a chemical or physical change (as by the action of a reagent or of cold) ; especially : an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid that may fall to the bottom, may be diffused through the solution, or may float at or near the top and that can often be separated from the liquid by filtration
2. : a product, result, or outcome of some process or action
inductive generalizations … are the precipitate of past experience — H.N.Lee
III. adjective
Etymology: Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare
1. : exhibiting a lack of due deliberation or care : acting with, done, or caused by unwise haste : rash , premature
Brazil was prompt, but not precipitate , in accommodating itself to the change — Walter Karig
she was resolved to lose nothing by neglect or delay, but she also meant to do nothing precipitate — H.G.Wells
2.
a. : falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent
b. : very steep : precipitous
bare precipitate cliffs — American Guide Series: Vermont
3. : marked by extreme or excessive speed or haste : violently rapid
an army in precipitate flight
born … by precipitate delivery in a physician's office — Journal American Medical Association
: sudden , abrupt
hoping that her departure would not seem indecently precipitate — Victoria Sackville-West
Synonyms:
headlong , impetuous , hasty , abrupt , sudden : precipitate applies to what is done hurriedly or rapidly without expected expenditure of time and may suggest lack of due consideration
we'll load up the equipment and pull out in the morning — why be so precipitate — P.B.Kyne
a precipitate attack was launched — S.M.Wilson
headlong indicates tearing rush with rash lack of observation and forethought
thousands and thousands of Belgians, pursuing with incredible speed and fury the Roman cavalry which soon turned in headlong flight — A.C.Whitehead
a headlong leap into unconsidered undertakings — S.L.A.Marshall
impetuous may apply to hasty forcible impulsiveness or impatience that precludes thoughtful prudence
the impetuous Spaniard rushed eagerly into the water up to his armpits and drank greedily — American Guide Series: California
impetuous rhetoric sweeps the author on to absurd generalizations — Reporter
hasty , in addition to stressing the notion of hurry, may suggest carelessness, thoughtlessness, or anger
hasty makeshifts take the place of planning, and temporary adaptations become fixed as permanent maladjustments — Arthur Geddes
faithful observation accompanied by reasonable inference, as opposed to the careless use of the senses and the hasty guessing that characterize most people — Norman Foerster
abrupt applies to that which is done with sudden sharpness breaking away from a previous course or performed without warning or intimation
the frequent abrupt about-face maneuvers performed by Soviet propagandists — T.P.Whitney
the reasoning that leads to this conclusion should be less abrupt. Jumping to conclusions is not permissible even among philosophers — O.S.J.Gogarty
sudden may heighten the notions of unexpectedness and haste without necessarily implying a break from a previous course
the car came to a stop, so sudden that it pitched both Clara and Hugh out of their seats — Sherwood Anderson
after the southern attack on Fort Sumter, there was a sudden and remarkable transformation of feeling in the North — W.A.Swanberg
the sudden rush of a fresh, strong, exhilarating, and unpredictable wind — B.R.Redman