English
precipitous
Precipitous comes from French précipiteux, from Latin praeceps ‘precipice’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraeceps‘precipice’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*praecipitōsusreconstructed
- Frenchc. 1600–presentprécipiteux
- Englishearliest quotation 1861precipitous
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kap-‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*káput‘head’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaput‘head’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaput‘head’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpraeceps‘precipice’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*praecipitōsusreconstructed
- Frenchc. 1600–presentprécipiteux
- Englishearliest quotation 1861precipitous
Earliest quotation: 1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain Charley: “About this time our journey began to be pleasant…”
Formed from precipice ‘steep cliff, brink’ + -ous
Latin praeceps ‘steep’
Latin praecipitium ‘a steep place’
Middle French precipice ‘precipice (steep cliff)’
English precipice
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, heavy, cash, catch, accept, behavior, capable, achieve, receive, cable, heavily, chase, capacity, capture, occupation, perception, haven, behave, reception, hawk, caption, captive, capsule, recipe, cater, susceptible, chassis, deception, anticipation, anticipate, captivity, cassette, conceive, recipient, casket, deceive, deceptive, conceivable, 136 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
capitalism, capitalize, capote, escapade, capitan, capitaine, 62 more
through Latin caput ‘head’
captain, capital, chapter, escape, cape, chef, cattle, cabin, chapel, capitol, capita, chaplain, cad, mischief, mischievous, chieftain, capillary, capo, cabana, capa, caddie, chattel, capuchin, scamper, scamp, chabot, jefe, capitulate, dishevelled, occipital, kaput, caput, chaperon, cabochon, 70 more
Today it means
adj Steep, like a precipice
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kap- / precipitous