precipitaten.
/prᵻˈsɪpᵻtət/, /prᵻˈsɪpᵻteɪt/, U.S. /priˈsɪpədət/, /prəˈsɪpədət/, /priˈsɪpəˌteɪt/, /prəˈsɪpəˌteɪt/ 1. Chemistry. Any of various solid mercury compounds formed by methods involving precipitation or separation from solution; formerly frequently attributive designating pharmaceutical preparations containing such compounds. Now chiefly historical. precipitate per se [after post-classical Latin mercurius praecipitatus per se] = red precipitate n. at red adj. and n. Compounds 1f(c)(i).red, sweet, white precipitate: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > mercury > [noun] > compounds
sublimate1543
precipitate1563
red mercury1582
quicksilver extinct1610
red precipitate1676
mercury fulminate1904
methylmercury1915
mercurochrome1919
mercurial1971
1563 T. Gale Certaine Wks. Chirurg. iv. ii. f. 68 The Argent Uiue that is combust (whych the Alchymistes call precipitate).
1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 380/1 It will wexe a redde poudre which is called Aurum vitæ, and the aureate or goulden præcipitate.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 513 Rats-bane, Quicke-siluer, Sublimate, and Precipitate, and diuers other thinges.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Precipitate... The Chymists and Writers of Pharmacy commonly give this Name by way of Eminence to Mercury dissolved in Acid Menstruums, and then afterwards precipitated down to the bottom in fine Powders.
1709 Philos. Trans. 1708–09 (Royal Soc.) 26 385 I exposed upon the Stone to the Focus some Mercury precipitate per se, in a degree of heat equal to that of digestion.
1753 J. Bartlet Gentleman's Farriery xxv. 230 Let the dressings be changed for the precipitate medicine.
1784 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 74 158 It may further be urged that precipitate per se yields only dephlogisticated air.
1837 S. Smith Let. to Singleton Finger and thumb, precipitate powder, or anything else you please.
1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. 391 I entered on the use of black wash, with weak precipitate ointment.
1978 Isis 69 231 The ointment consisted of a mixture of butter and the common red precipitate of mercury prepared by way of the nitrate (i.e., not the precipitate per se prepared by heating mercury alone).
2.
a. Chiefly Chemistry. Any precipitated substance; a solid, often powdery or flocculent, which separates or is deposited from a solution as a result of chemical action, cooling, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > state of being solid rather than fluid > [noun] > solid matter which falls to bottom of liquid
drega1300
groundsa1340
upon the lee1390
foundersc1450
residence1539
sediment1547
resident1558
precipitate1594
settling1594
precipitation1605
crassament1615
subsistence1622
subsidence1646
sedimen1655
crassamentum1657
deposit1781
sludge1839
ppt1864
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > chemical reactions or processes (named) > precipitation > precipitate
precipitate1594
precipitation1605
1594 H. Plat Jewell House 35 In the end, by a reverbatory furnesse hee turned al this great matter into a precipitate.
1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities 353 A no lesse evident Example..we have in the precipitate of Gold and Mercury made by heat alone.
1744 E. R. Seehl New Improvem. Art of making Sulphur 21 As soon as it is precipitated out of such a fix'd Alkali Solution..it ought to change into a white Precipitate.
1827 M. Faraday Chem. Manip. ii. 61 Some precipitates will be days and even weeks before they will settle.
1906 H. J. H. Fenton Notes Qualitative Anal. (new ed.) 9 The precipitate produced by silver nitrate and caustic potash is soluble in ammonia.
1960 F. G. Mann & B. C. Saunders Pract. Org. Chem. (ed. 4) iii. 383 A deep brown solution is produced, and a brown precipitate of the dye Bismarck Brown separates out.
1990 T. G. Wreghitt & P. Morgan-Capner ELISA in Clin. Microbiol. Lab. xx. 284 Kraus observed that cell-free culture filtrates of plague bacilli formed a precipitate with serum from immune animals.
2000 Lapidary Jrnl. June 51/1 Tufa is a porous limestone of calcium carbonate precipitate.
b. Meteorology. More fully atmospheric precipitate. Moisture that falls to the earth after condensing from water vapour in the atmosphere; a particular form of this, as rain or snow.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > [noun]
wetec897
wetc1290
weather1382
ymurc1540
rheum?1553
precipitation1605
precipitate1832
the world > matter > liquid > moisture or humidity > [noun] > condensed moisture
precipitation1605
distillation1609
condensation1614
precipitate1832
1832 T. Chalmers Let. in W. Hanna Mem. T. Chalmers (1851) III. xvii. 321 The heat, and the vapour, and the atmospherical precipitates.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 65 There is yet another form of atmospheric precipitate that needs a passing notice.
1975 Chem. Geol. 16 197 A certain complication may come from the exposure of the lava flows to sea-spray sulphate in atmospheric precipitates.
2004 BBC Monitoring Internat. Rep. (Nexis) 24 Aug. Testing and meteorological equipment..that registers changes in temperature, humidity, wind speed, atmospheric precipitates, [etc.].
3. figurative. Something that materializes or is produced as by a chemical or atmospheric process; a by-product.
ΚΠ
1816 J. Taylor Ess. in Rhyme 106 For, first appears at bottom of the phial, A large precipitate of self-denial.
1851 T. Carlyle Life J. Sterling i. iii. 35 The Sterling household shifted twice or thrice..before the vapours of Wellesley promotions and such like slowly sank as useless precipitate.
1890 Spectator 22 Nov. The proportion of his precipitate of rascaldom which can be cured..in that way, is a very small one.
1905 G. A. Smith in Expositor Oct. 309 Convulsions within Jerusalem, the precipitates from which lie heavy on the later memory of the Jewish nation.
1994 E. Morgan Sweeping out Dark 64 The slow precipitate of phantoms. Fog that fills the boat is worse than water.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
precipitateadj.
/prᵻˈsɪpᵻtət/, /prᵻˈsɪpᵻteɪt/, U.S. /priˈsɪpədət/, /prəˈsɪpədət/, /priˈsɪpəˌteɪt/, /prəˈsɪpəˌteɪt/ I. Senses relating to haste or speed.
1.
a. Of an action, judgement, etc.: characterized by excessive haste or lack of deliberation; hasty, rash, unconsidered.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > acting with haste > hasty or hurried
hastivea1325
raplyc1390
runninga1400
rapec1410
precipitate1545
hasty1560
abrupt1576
festinate1598
breathless1606
hasteful1610
precipitatedc1625
arreptitious1653
hurried1667
prerupt1727
hurry-scurry1732
rush1879
rushed1888
scampered1894
rush-round1903
rushy1976
drive-by1992
1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde Prol. sig. C They yt geue so precipitat and heddy iudgements.
1591 R. Cosin Apol. for Sundrie Proc. ii. xviii. 182 Such precipitate executions where neither conisance of their cause, nor any due conuiction and iudgement, was precedent.
a1618 W. Raleigh Life & Death Mahomet (1637) 66 His præcipitate Councels in defacing Castles and strong palaces.
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing x. 92 Our senses are not in fault, but our precipitate judgments.
1759 A. Smith Let. 21 Feb. (1977) 29 Which, as no other evidence is particularly specified, makes me fear that this horrid execution has been a little precipitate.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 501 Destroyed in that precipitate burning of his papers a few days before his death.
1845 H. H. Wilson Hist. Brit. India 1805–35 I. vii. 481 The check opposed to precipitate and indiscreet zeal was not detrimental to the ultimate extension of Christianity.
1883 R. Broughton Belinda II. iii. iv. 235 ‘Show him in,’ she says, with precipitate decision. ‘Say that I will be down directly.’
1917 E. R. Burroughs Princess of Mars xv. 166 The cunning of the Thark held her from headlong and precipitate flight to greet him.
1986 K. Moore Moving House i. 4 Early and rather precipitate marriages did run in the family.
2005 Financial Times (Nexis) 20 Sept. 4 No one could accuse the government of precipitate action on this.
b. Of a person: acting or inclined to act impulsively; impetuous; headstrong.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > acting with haste > foolishly or recklessly
hastivec1300
racklec1300
hastya1375
foolhastya1393
headya1425
properant1531
headlonga1533
steep1601
precipitate1607
precipitant1608
proclive1609
precipitious1612
precipitous1646
precipitating1681
ram-stam1786
precipit1922
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 301 They likewise fall to be so madde and præcipitate in luste, raging both with gestures and voice.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvii. 153 Men that are hasty, and præcipitate in concluding..what to do.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 112. ⁋5 If I could perswade these precipitate young Gentlemen to compose this Restlessness of Mind.
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §123 I was determined not to be precipitate in purchasing.
1824 W. Irving Tales of Traveller I. 346 It was feared by some that she might be precipitate in her choice.
1852 S. J. B. Hale Northwood xvii. 206 He was too precipitate; you have his example before you, and would doubtless avoid his errors.
1899 S. Grundy Silver Shield iii. 53 Diana, I was too precipitate.
1925 E. Bowen Parrot in London Mercury July 246 Had Mrs Lennicott been allowed to engage him further in conversation his capture from the rear might easily have been effected, but Eleanor was too precipitate.
1996 Economist 17 Aug. 78/3 Adroit and daring on occasions though he could be, MacArthur was also headlong and precipitate.
2. † a. Descending steeply; going straight downwards; with a headlong descent. Obsolete (chiefly poetic).Chiefly in predicative use as complement, and hence almost adverbial; cf. precipitately adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > [adjective] > falling steeply or swiftly
precipitate1614
precipitious1638
precipitant1667
toppling1812
plummeting1934
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. i. vii. §7. 44 The foure Riuers (had they not fallen so precipitate) could not haue had sufficient force to haue thrust themselues vnder the great Ocean.
1706 N. Rowe Ulysses iii. i Now like a Whirlwind, on the Shepherd's Fold He [sc. an Eagle] darts precipitate.
1764 Anti-times 5 You fled the thunder of his hand, And fell precipitate, (before his ire,) To never-dying woe, and endless fire.
1773 J. Murray Travels Imagination ii. 28 I was afraid lest the surgeon..should have made a precipitate descent into the river, and gone down into the region of Antipodes.
1838 R. Southey Poet. Wks. X. 226 They howling and groaning Fell precipitate, down to their dolorous place of endurance.
1850 J. S. Blackie tr. Æschylus Lyrical Dramas II. 247 And Dadaces, the chiliarch, spear-struck fell Precipitate from his ship.
b. Of land, mountains, etc.: very steep, precipitous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > cliff > [adjective] > steep or precipitous
prerupt1603
precipitate1615
precipitating1615
precipitious1631
precipit1648
precipitous1660
skerrya1800
steeped-to1858
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 223 Some part of it of a plaine descent, some precipitate, some clothed with trees of seuerall kinds.
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) §225 241 The way right down to the quay, they call it Precipitate.
1777 J. Heely Descr. Envil 31 The ample forest that mantles the roving precipitate hills there.
1791 tr. J. B. B. d'Anville Compend. Anc. Geogr. 305 All this country, distributed into deep valleys and precipitate mountains, is still called Keldir.
1860 N. Hawthorne Marble Faun II. ix. 103 They wandered to and fro, accordingly, and lost themselves among the strange, precipitate passages, which in Perugia, are called streets.
1896 Times 13 Jan. 13/1 The lines are all situated on the northern coast, the object being to provide transport over the precipitate mountain ranges immediately adjoining the coast-line.
1904 Iowa Recorder 30 Mar. 3/1 The flat country is broken by a series of precipitate mountain ranges.
1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 17 June 6 c/3 Nobody in his right mind would have built a city on these precipitate hills.
1998 Australian (Nexis) 24 Apr. l3 Instead of gently sloping country they found precipitate hills in front of them.
3. Moving or driven along rapidly; characterized by great haste or speed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > [adjective] > moving with impetuous speed or headlong
ranka1250
whirling1382
hurlingc1400
whithering1513
headling?1518
vehement1528
heady1562
headlongc1565
precipitant1649
precipitate1654
torrent1667
precipitous1681
tearing1765
torrentuous1840
whirlwind1865
torrential1877
Gadarene1895
rocketing1952
1654 tr. M. Martini Bellum Tartaricum 70 That vast and precipitate River which the Chineses call Hoang.
1712 A. Pope tr. Statius First Bk. Thebais in Misc. Poems 16 Such was the Discord of the Royal Pair, Whom Fury drove precipitate to War.
1756 C. Smart tr. Horace Odes i. xxix, in tr. Horace Wks. I. 63 It is possible for precipitate rivers to flow back again to the high mountains, and for the Tiber to change his course.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall (1869) II. xlvi. 729 The general escaped by a precipitate flight.
1849 G. Grote Hist. Greece V. ii. xxxix. 92 This precipitate retreat produced consequences highly disastrous.
1892 R. L. Stevenson & L. Osbourne Wrecker viii. 127 ‘This way,’ said I, immediately falling in with their precipitate pace.
1907 Manitoba Morning Free Press 27 July 18/5 From its sources in the Horseshoe Glacier to its confluence with the Bow, it is a precipitate stream, brawling over an uneven bed of large stones.
1997 Times (Nexis) 31 July The precipitate pace does not necessarily betoken carelessness on the part of adapter and director Welcome Msomi—rather a completely different perspective on storytelling.
4. Performed, occurring, or acting very rapidly; very sudden, abrupt; (Obstetrics) designating very rapid labour, typically resulting in delivery of the fetus in less than three hours. Cf. precipitous adj. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [adjective] > acting with haste > hasty or sudden
subitane?a1425
subite?1483
subitany1603
precipitating1638
subitaneous1645
precipitous1646
precipitant1649
precipitate1658
precipitious1676
1658 J. Rowland Topsell's Hist. Four-footed Beasts (rev. ed.) New Ded. Ep. sig. A3v That Art is long, Life short, Experience difficult, occasion precipitate, Judgement uncertain.
1700 T. Brown et al. tr. P. Scarron Comical Romance i. xiii. 46 in tr. P. Scarron Whole Comical Wks. The Child's Mother was a young Lady of a very good Family... By reason of her precipitate Delivery, she was fallen desperate sick.
a1701 H. Maundrell Journey Aleppo to Jerusalem (1703) 27 Their service consisted in precipitate, and very irreverent chattering of certain Prayers and hymns.
a1722 J. Toland Coll. Several Pieces (1726) II. 474 They..cou'd not foresee the suddain and precipitate fall of the Stock.
1767 W. Tooke Weever's Antient Funeral Monuments (new ed.) 283 He was suddenly arrested in the council-chamber, and committed to the tower... His precipitate downfall is verified [in a poem].
1843 E. A. Poe Purloined Let. in Gift 1845 60 His downfall, too, will not be more precipitate than awkward.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VII. 737 Besides the long and difficult labour, the quick, or, in technical language the precipitate labour.
1939 A. Carr Juggernaut v. 124 With the precipitate fall from power, he sensed that assassination was an imminent danger.
1998 Times (Nexis) 18 July The overwhelming majority of babies born as a result of a precipitate delivery do as well as babies born in the best hospital.
5. Hurled downwards, as over a precipice. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1570 J. Foxe Actes & Monumentes (rev. ed.) I. vi. 894/1 Some..had their wiues before them cast into the riuer and drowned: also theyr infantes and yong children..were precipitate and throwne into the riuer and drowned.
1591 H. Barrow Plaine Refut. Giffardes Bk. 68 He forfeited his place & was to be caste fourth, as the Angells that sinned were precipitate out of heauen.
1604 A. Craig Poet. Ess. sig. Cv When fabling Æsop was..condem'd to be precipitat & slane.
6. Cast down; subjected. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1627 M. Drayton Elegies in Battaile Agincourt 214 I finde this age of oure markt with this fate, That honest men are still precipitate Vnder base villaines.
7. Scottish. Hastened, hurried on. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1638 R. Baillie Lett. & Jrnls. (1841) I. 50 The thesaurer finding his purpose revealed, intended to have the proclamation precipitat.
a1722 J. Lauder Hist. Observes (1840) App. iv. 307 Matters being thus praecipitat.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
precipitatev.
/prᵻˈsɪpᵻteɪt/, U.S. /priˈsɪpəˌteɪt/, /prəˈsɪpəˌteɪt/ I. Senses relating to falling.
1. † b. transitive. To overturn, upset, destroy (a person, etc.); to throw into confusion. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To throw (a person) suddenly or violently into a particular state or condition, esp. an undesirable one.
ΚΠ
1528 S. Gardiner in N. Pocock Rec. Reformation (1870) I. l. 119 He shall precipitate himself into his enemies dedition.
1590 tr. Coppie of Anti-Spaniard 37 Eyther presently to precipitate our selues into euerlasting bondage, or prosperously to purchase our eternall freedome.
1638 R. Farley Lychnocausia xxi The hand..doth it selfe præcipitate Into open danger, shewing so its love.
1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iii. §8 How often they are precipitated from the height of prosperity, into the depth of adversity.
1716 Town-talk 6 Jan. 40 The Sanguine Temper which precipitates People into Excesses.
1809 R. Tyler Yankey in London xi. 55 His ungoverned passions, at times, precipitated him into broils and striking.
1880 G. Meredith Tragic Comedians I. v. 96 A youth who could be precipitated into the writhings of dissolution, and raised out of it by a smile.
1934 R. Lynd Both Sides of Road iv. 24 Is it into this world of jangling suspicion and irresponsible hatred that the clergy of the future are to be precipitated?
1993 Times 27 Sept. 16/7 Fatherlessness is extremely bad news for children, precipitating them into poverty and lasting emotional problems.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > overthrow or overturn
to-warpc888
overwarpeOE
fallOE
cumber1303
overthrowc1375
overturna1382
subverta1382
overwalta1400
sinka1400
to wend downa1400
tuyrec1400
reverse1402
tirvec1420
pervert?a1425
to put downa1425
cumrayc1425
downthringc1430
overthwart?a1439
thringc1480
subvertise1484
succumb1490
renverse1521
precipitate?1528
everta1538
wrake1570
ruinate1590
profligate1643
wreck1749
?1528 in Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation (1679) I. ii. xxii. 58 Not to suffer the Pope's Holiness, if he would thus wilfully, without reason or discretion to precipitate himself and the said See.
1592 R. Dallington tr. F. Colonna Hypnerotomachia f. 29v All thy grations [read gratious] conceits and pleasant highe delyghtes builded in thy apprehensiue thoughtes..are deadly shaken, and abruptlie precipitated and cast downe.
1610 Bible (Douay) II. Psalms liv. 10 Precipitate ô Lord, and divide their tongues.
1825 S. T. Coleridge Aids Refl. 305 The pollution (miasma) of Sin is precipitated by his Blood, the power of Sin is conquered by his Spirit.
c. transitive. To cast down (a person, etc.) suddenly or violently; to throw over a precipice; (reflexive) to throw or fling oneself down or forward.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > projecting through space or throwing > throw [verb (transitive)] > headlong
precipitate1541
precipit1628
precipice1653
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > throw down > headlong
adusta1250
precipitate1541
precipit1628
precipice1653
plummet1855
1541 T. Becon News out of Heaven sig. Eviv Perceyue ye no waye to escape the greate displeasure of god, but only to precipitate & caste your selfe headlong into hell pytte.
a1605 R. Bannatyne Memorials Trans. Scotl. (1836) 58 To escaip his furie ye did precipitate your self in ane deip river.
1628 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 3) iii. iv. ii. i. 620 Salmoneus, that would in dirision imitate Iupiters thunder, hee was precipitated for his pains.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 42 Water gushed out miraculously from the place into which he was precipitated.
1766 G. Cockings Conquest Canada ii. ii. 27 Let us make them in a forc'd Retreat, precipitate themselves into The sea!
1774 T. Pennant Tour Scotl. 1772 224 The garrison had no alternative but to perish by the edge of the sword, or to precipitate themselves into the ocean.
1839 T. Keightley Hist. Eng. II. 36 On the brink of a precipice over which she was to be ere long precipitated.
1850 W. Wordsworth Prelude i. 25 Those sooty knaves, precipitated down With scoffs and taunts, like Vulcan out of heaven.
1898 Argosy June 494 One of the brave fellows precipitated himself upon my assailant.
1932 J. C. Powys Glastonbury Romance vi. 162 The door..opened with the peculiar impetus that inrushing children give, and no fewer than four lively youngsters precipitated themselves into the room.
1966 R. Garis My Father was Uncle Wiggily 14 My mother paid not the slightest attention. She precipitated herself into the bathroom.
1981 J. May Many-colored Land iii. iii. 313 I was blown to the lip of a dry watercourse and precipitated into its rocky depths, where I lay unconscious until dawn.
2.
a. intransitive. To fall suddenly or violently into a particular state or condition, esp. an undesirable one; to come suddenly to a lower position.In quot. 1593: to come down from a position of dignity; to condescend.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > become degraded or debased [verb (intransitive)] > stoop to something unworthy
descendc1350
precipitate1593
to forget oneself1597
condescend1640
stoop1743
1593 Ld. Essex Let. 23 Aug. in F. Bacon Wks. (1862) VIII. 254 She [sc. Queen Elizabeth] should precipitate too much from being highly displeased with you, to give you near access.
1650 R. Gentilis tr. V. Malvezzi Considerations Lives Alcibiades & Corialanus 160 Those who have such a mixture of great vices, and great vertues, sometimes precipitate and fall almost as soon as they are born.
1682 J. Scarlett Stile of Exchanges 173 Exchanges are as variable as the Wind, and many times as if made, do precipitate without any known Cause or Reason.
1758 Herald No. 23 2 116 While a nation is precipitating to its ruin.
1927 N. Inouye in J. B. Condliffe Probl. of Pacific 438 Raw silk..reached the height of 4,400 yen in February, 1920, only to precipitate down to 1,100 yen.
1997 S. Fraser Bell Curve Wars 12 The idea that there was a permanently poor underclass consisting of genetically inferior people who had precipitated down into their inevitable fate.
b. intransitive. To fall headlong, to plunge; to descend steeply or vertically.In quot. 1744: to gravitate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > waterfall > descend as a waterfall [verb (intransitive)]
precipitate1608
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > fall [verb (intransitive)] > fall steeply or swiftly
of-fallOE
tumblec1330
stoopa1400
plumba1425
rushc1440
to ding downa1500
precipitate1608
plummet1845
nosedive1920
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xx. 50 So many fadome downe precipitating Thou hadst shiuerd like an egge. View more context for this quotation
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 209 Aquapendente, a Towne situated on a very raged rock, downe which precipitates an intire river.
1744 T. Stack in Philos. Trans. 1739–40 (Royal Soc.) 41 421 The Complication of these Two Forces will compel the Mobile to precipitate to the Centre..of the Parallel it happens to be in.
1785 T. Jefferson Let. 19 June in Papers (1953) VIII. 354 They precipitated from that height to the earth, and were crushed to atoms.
1864 H. A. Loughary Jrnl. 30 Aug. in K. L. Holmes Covered Wagon Women (1989) VIII. 160 Beautiful waterfalls precipitating down craggy mountains spreading their silvery veils.
2001 RIA Novosti (Nexis) 23 Mar. Argentinian television channels showed parts of the Mir precipitating down above the Fiji islands.
II. Senses relating to bringing about or hastening.† 4. intransitive. To move, act, or proceed with haste, esp. excessive haste; to hurry. Obsolete.
3.
a. transitive. To cause (an event or series of events) to happen quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly; to hasten the occurrence of. Now also more generally: to bring about, cause to happen.
ΚΠ
1557 R. Edgeworth Serm. very Fruitfull ii. f. xxiii I would they should not so rashely precipitate their sentence in such weighty matters.
1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 221 If they bee Stout, and Daring, it may precipitate their Designes, and proue dangerous.
1670 C. Cotton tr. G. Girard Hist. Life Duke of Espernon i. ii. 65 The Duke of Joyeuse having precipitated the Battel of Coutras,..he there lost the Battel, with his Life.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. vi. 199 They could not precipitate his departure.
1837 B. Disraeli Venetia I. 72 [He] often precipitated these paroxysms by denying his mother..duty and affection.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vi. §3. 284 Its ruin was precipitated by religious persecution.
1902 H. James Wings of Dove I. iii. vi. 148 This mystifying mood had simply been precipitated, no doubt, by their prolonged halt.
1976 J. P. Getty As I see It 272 To my amazement, I obtained Marten Looten for only $65,000—and unwittingly came close to precipitating an international crisis.
1994 Summit Bank Third Quarter 2/2 It can precipitate a heart attack.
b. transitive. To cause (an event or series of events) to proceed rapidly or pass quickly; to hasten, hurry along.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > do, deal with, acquire, etc., quickly [verb (transitive)] > cause to be done rapidly > hasten or hurry
hiec1320
skinda1325
rape?a1400
acceleratec1522
hasten?1537
precipitate1558
swiften1638
hurry1713
1558 W. Ward tr. G. Ruscelli Secretes Alexis of Piemount i. f.1v Our disordinate maner of life maketh vs..to precipitate our yougth [Fr. precipiter la ieunesse], and to abbreuiate moche our life.
1680 Bp. G. Burnet Some Passages Life Rochester 166 How have many wasted their strength, brought many Diseases on their Bodies, and precipitated their Age in the pursuit of those things?
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 141 The Goddess..Her self, involv'd in Clouds, precipitates her Flight. View more context for this quotation
1736 Bp. J. Butler Analogy of Relig. ii. iv. 192 Men are impatient and for precipitating things.
1760 Impostors Detected I. i. 3 My father, who knew the bad consequences of precipitating youth.
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xxxiv. 320 Agitated by these thoughts he precipitated his journey. View more context for this quotation
1858 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. (1871) II. viii. 554 Men will not bide their time, but will insist on precipitating the march of affairs.
1989 J. McDaniel Of Gods & Pelicans 147 The human role in precipitating rates of species extinction.
2001 Scotsman (Nexis) 12 Oct. 23 European competition has..fearful tendency to precipitate the ageing process among managers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move with impetuous speed
leapOE
swengec1000
swingOE
throwc1275
hurla1300
dashc1300
fling1300
stetec1330
lance?a1400
slinga1400
whirlc1400
wringc1400
dingc1450
whither1487
chop1555
to cast (also lay) one's heels in one's neck1599
clap1603
precipitate1622
teara1627
toss1727
to keep on at a score1807
whing1882
whirlwind1894
to go off full score1900
careen1923
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > proceed rapidly [verb (intransitive)] > hasten or hurry > unduly or recklessly
rusha1530
precipitate1622
1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 167 Neyther..did their Forces gather or encrease, which might hasten him to precipitate and assayle them.
1647 J. Sprigge Anglia Rediviva i. v. 34 We were drawing off to avoid fighting (and just then it was brought to the King, that our Army was flying to Northampton), which did occasion them the more to precipitate.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa iii. i. 244 We are now deliberating about the Election of Gods Vice-gerent..,and shall we precipitate in this manner?
1758 J. Jortin Life Erasmus I. 164 I precipitate rather than compose, and it is far more irksome to me to review than to write.
III. Senses relating to the deposition of solid or liquid matter.
5.
a. intransitive. Chiefly Chemistry. To be deposited as a solid from solution or from suspension in a gas or (formerly) a liquid; to settle as a precipitate. Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > undergo chemical reactions or processes [verb (intransitive)] > undergo chemical reactions or processes (named) > undergo precipitation
precipitatea1626
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > state of being solid rather than fluid > solid rather than fluid [verb (intransitive)] > sink to the bottom as sediment
settlec1420
precipitatea1626
deposit1832
a1626 F. Bacon Physiol. Remains in Baconiana (1679) 120 By what strong Water every Metal will precipitate.
1758 A. Reid tr. P. J. Macquer Elements Theory & Pract. Chym. I. 379 It always precipitates in the form of a white calx.
1854 J. Scoffern in Orr's Circle Sci., Chem. 403 Carbonate of lime..precipitates.
1933 S. W. Cole Pract. Physiol. Chem. (ed. 9) ii. 58 The solubility is at a minimum, that is, it flocks or precipitates most readily at this reaction.
1991 Discover Mar. 69/1 Chemical vapor deposition is a phenomenon by which solid molecules precipitate out from a vapor.
2002 M. Kurlansky Salt (2003) xxii. 367 Sodium chloride, the salt of the past, is the first to precipitate out of concentrated brine.
b. intransitive. Meteorology. To fall or be deposited as condensed water vapour, or in solution or suspension in such vapour.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > moisture or humidity > be or become humid [verb (intransitive)] > fall or be deposited as condensed vapour
coagulec1400
coagulatec1550
condense1655
dripa1670
devaporate1787
precipitate1796
1796 S. Vince Princ. Hydrostat. vii. 95 The vapours..have no inclination to precipitate and fall down in drops.
1940 G. Gamow Birth & Death of Sun iii. 69 The air above the piston will cool and the water vapour will begin to precipitate.
1978 Sci. Amer. Mar. 76/3 As a consequence the atmosphere would have cooled and the water vapour in it would have condensed and precipitated onto the surface.
1998 Strategic Managem. Jrnl. 19 1152/1 Formed mainly when SO2 and to a lesser extent nitrogen oxides..precipitate out of the atmosphere, acid rain was viewed as the source of the damage.
6.
a. transitive. Chiefly Chemistry. To cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from solution in a liquid, by chemical action, cooling, etc. Also: (Metallurgy) to cause crystals of (a solute phase) to separate from solution in a solid. Formerly also: †to deposit (a substance) from suspension or admixture in a liquid, as a sediment, etc. (obsolete). Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > subject to chemical reactions or processes [verb (transitive)] > subject to named chemical reaction or process > subject to precipitation
to strike down1594
precipitate1644
the world > matter > constitution of matter > density or solidity > state of being solid rather than fluid > solid rather than fluid [verb (transitive)] > deposit (sediment)
precipitate1644
deposit1672
throw1731
depose1759
depositate1782
sediment1859
vacuum-deposit1982
1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xxxiv. 290 This steame therefore, flying still to the serous bloud which passeth by, must of necessity precipitate (as I may say) the serous partes of that bloud.
1676–7 N. Grew Solution of Salts i. §14 They are both copiously and forthwith precipitated to the bottome of the Glass.
1744 E. R. Seehl New Improvem. Art of making Sulphur 53 If you want to precipitate any Metal, which is dissolved in an acid Menstruum.
1791 Philos. Trans. 1790 (Royal Soc.) 80 375 (note) Copper and zinc readily precipitate silver from these solutions.
1857 E. L. Birkett Bird's Urinary Deposits (ed. 5) 246 This acid readily precipitates lime from all its combinations with acids.
1946 V. N. Wood Metall. Materials v. 140 The solid alloy consists then of two constituents: free lead precipitated at temperatures above 248°C. and a solid solution containing 12.5 per cent antimony and 87.5 per cent lead.
1983 New Scientist (BNC) 14 Apr. When the metal-rich solution..mixes with cold water, it rapidly precipitates out the metals in the form of sulphides.
2000 A. Dalby Dangerous Tastes 128 Anethol, the essential oil of anise.., dissolves in the alcohol, but it is precipitated when the proportion of water increases.
b. transitive. figurative or in figurative context.In quot. 1891 in Spiritualism: to materialize.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > spiritualism > [verb (transitive)] > cause to materialize
materialize1840
precipitate1891
1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxvi. 563 The invasion of the Huns precipitated on the provinces of the West the Gothic nation.
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II. 189 The mercury of his blood was precipitated.
1844 R. W. Emerson Ess. 2nd Ser. vi. 213 The world is mind precipitated.
1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 Oct. 2/3 The assertion of a band of Mejnour and Zanoni brothers who possess the secret of dissolving their own senile bodies and precipitating them again in the prime of physical condition.
1969 D. Acheson Present at Creation (1970) II. xvi. 141 All elements of the problem were held, as it were, in solution in his mind until it was ready to precipitate a decision.
c. transitive. Chemistry. To cause precipitation in (a solution). Now rare.
ΚΠ
1791 Philos. Trans. 1790 (Royal Soc.) 80 378 A solution of silver is not precipitated by iron in cold, unless it have a superabundance of phlogisticated acid.
1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. I. 96 This acid liquor precipitates lime water.
1862 H. Watts tr. L. Gmelin Hand-bk. Chem. XV. 143 The solution of cellulose in cuprammonia is precipitated by a large quantity of water.
1933 S. W. Cole Pract. Physiol. Chem. (ed. 9) ix. 227 An acid solution of edestin..is precipitated by sodium chloride.
d. transitive. Meteorology. To condense (water vapour) into drops that fall to or condense on the ground as rain, snow, dew, etc.; to cause (water) to fall or condense in this way.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > moisture or humidity > render humid or expose to vapour [verb (transitive)] > condense moisture
resolvea1398
condense1662
devaporate1787
precipitate1863
1863 J. Tyndall Heat ii. 32 A very few strokes suffice to precipitate the vapour.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 44 The mass of ice cools the surrounding air, and thus precipitates its moisture.
1966 D. Bagley Wyatt's Hurricane (1980) vi. 181 The hurricane will also precipitate a lot of water in the form of rain.
1996 Daily Tel. 31 May 25/3 As we approach the next millennium, must we still rely on the Fates to precipitate our water on land?
e. transitive. To cause (dust or other particulate matter) to be deposited on a surface from suspension in a gas, esp. by the application of an electric field.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > undergo chemical reactions or processes [verb] > undergo chemical reactions or processes (named) > to cause to be deposited upon a surface
precipitate1911
1911 Jrnl. Industr. & Engin. Chem. Aug. 543/2 Cotton-covered wire when used as a discharge electrode..proved far more effective in precipitating the sulphuric acid mists.
1938 Trans. Inst. Chem. Engineers 16 40/1 The gas is..passed through an electrofitter of the dry type where the greater part of the dust is precipitated.
1975 S. Masuda in A. R. Blythe Static Electrification 1975 iii. 154 Particles charged by collision with unipolar ions emitted from the discharge electrode are driven by the coulombic force on to the collecting electrode, where they are precipitated.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1563
adj.1545v.1528