| 释义 |
precarious, a.|prɪˈkɛərɪəs|
[f. L. precāri-us obtained by entreaty, depending on the favour of another, hence, uncertain, precarious (f. prec-em prayer, entreaty + -ārius, -ary1) + -ous.]
1. Held by the favour and at the pleasure of another; hence, uncertain. precarious tenure, a tenure held during the pleasure of the superior.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 26 With more excusable reservation may we shrink at their bare testimonies, whose argument is but precarious and subsists upon the charity of our assentments. 1656Blount Glossogr., Precarious.., granted to one by prayer and intreaty, to use so long as it pleaseth the party, and no longer. 1673Temple Observ. United Prov. Wks. 1731 I. 19 Out of Indignation to see himself but a precarious Governor, without Force or Dependence. 1711Addison Spect. No. 256 ⁋10 This little Happiness is so very precarious, that it wholly depends on the Will of others. 1754H. Walpole Lett. (1846) III. 73 Though the tenure is precarious, I cannot help liking the situation for you. 1878W. E. Hearn Aryan Househ. xviii. §5. 425 His holding was, in the language of the Roman lawyers, ‘precarious’, that is, upon his request to the owner, and with that owner's leave.
2. Question-begging, assumed, taken for granted; unfounded, doubtful, uncertain.
1659H. More Immort. Soul ii. x. 216 That the Fabrick of the Body is out of the concurse of Atomes, is a meer precarious Opinion, without any ground or reason. a1677Hale Prim. Orig. Man. 9 Because it suits with that artificial and precarious Hypothesis which was before taken up and made much of. 1779Wesley Wks. (1830) IV. 148 Quite unproved, quite precarious from beginning to end. 1869J. Martineau Ess. II. 181 His mode of proof is precarious and unsatisfactory. 1882Farrar Early Chr. II. 506 Such an inference is most precarious.
3. Dependent upon circumstances or chance; liable to fail, insecure, unstable, uncertain.
1687in Somers Tracts (1748) I. 247 When they see us owning the Exercise of our established Religion to be so precarious. 1700Dryden Ceyx & Alcyone 44 He but sits precarious on the throne. 1700J. A. Astry tr. Saavedra-Faxardo II. 378 His Empire is accounted precarious, and short lived. 1734Swift Pol. Tracts, Reas. agst. Bill for Tythe of Hemp (1738) 274 The Payment of Tythes in this Kingdom, is subject to so many Frauds, Brangles, and other Difficulties,..that they are, of all other Rents, the most precarious. 1794S. Williams Vermont 136 They afforded them but a scanty and precarious support. 1838Lytton Calderon i, His health was infirm and his life precarious. 1879Rogers in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 87/2 There is no article in demand the value of which is so precarious as that of a book.
4. Exposed to danger, perilous, risky.
1727A. Hamilton New Acc. E. Ind. II. xliii. 122 There are so many Banks and Rocks under Water, that Navigation is very precarious. 1827Scott Highl. Widow v, The precarious track through the morass the dizzy path along the edge of the precipice. 1894H. Drummond Ascent of Man 253 The fisherman's life is a precarious life; he becomes hardy, resolute, self-reliant.
†5. Suppliant, supplicating; importunate. Obs.
1659Pearson Creed (1839) 137 ‘He ever liveth to make intercession for them.’.. Nor must we look upon this as a servile or precarious, but rather as an efficacious and glorious intercession. 1667Pepys Diary 6 Nov., He do endeavour to gain them again in the most precarious manner in all things that is possible. 1670Dryden 1st Pt. Conq. Granada i. i, What Subjects will precarious Kings regard? A Beggar speaks too softly to be heard. 1697in W. S. Perry Hist. Coll. Amer. Col. Ch. I. 48 Sir Edmund Andros knows nothing of this right he has jure devoluto, or else he would not suffer the clergy to be so precarious.
†6. See precary n. 2. Obs. |