precipitationn.
/prᵻˌsɪpᵻˈteɪʃn/, U.S. /priˌsɪpəˈteɪʃ(ə)n/, /prəˌsɪpəˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ I. Senses relating to descent.† 2. Steepness of descent; verticality, precipitateness. Obsolete. rare.
1. † b. Medicine. Prolapse of the uterus, esp. through the vaginal orifice. Obsolete.† c. Downward growth. Obsolete. rare.
a. The action or an act of casting down or falling from a height; the fact of being cast down; vertical fall or descent. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > [noun] > throwing down > headlong
precipitationa1475
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > [noun] > steep or swift fall
precipice1606
precipe1615
precipitancea1625
plummeting1658
precipitation1720
nosedive1919
a1475 Revelations St. Birgitta (Garrett) (1929) 65 After þe precypitacion of the fendes, God..made man.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. iii. 106 Wee..banish him our Citie In perill of precipitation From off the Rocke Tarpeian. View more context for this quotation
1720 R. Welton tr. T. Alvares de Andrade Sufferings Son of God II. xvi. 427 Under this Assurance that He might cast Himself down from the Pinnacle, but that He should be supported in His Precipitation as well as He was in His Ascent thither.
1823 G. S. Faber Treat. Christian Dispensations I. vii. 422 The precipitation of the messengers into Tartarus bore a strong resemblance to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrha.
1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine (1858) x. 367 The summit of a mountain, from which summit the intended precipitation was to take place.
1998 J. B. Bullen Pre-Raphaelite Body iii. 148 The fallen woman who recites the story of her precipitation from respectability.
2001 J. T. Hallinan Going up River v. 65 Among the forms of capital punishment favored by the Romans were..precipitation from a cliff (for perjury).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > [noun] > prolapse
procidentia1566
precipitationa1576
prolapsion1580
procidence1601
prolapsus1636
prolapse1676
exitus1797
collapse1833
retrodisplacement1870
ptosis1897
visceroptosis1897
a1576 W. Bullein Bulwarke of Defence (1579) f. 62v Fagus the Beeche tree, and Ilix do beare Mast, not only good for Swyne to feede vpon, but also in medicine doth stop..the precipitation or coming forth of the Matrices of Women.
1612 tr. J. Guillemeau Child-birth 210 The precipitation, or comming downe of the wombe: the ligaments being loosened, and sometimes broken.
1710 H. Chamberlen tr. F. Mauriceau Dis. Women with Child (ed. 4) 98 The bearing down of the Womb is when it only falls into the Vagina, without coming in the least forth of the Privities, for then it is called the falling out, or Precipitation.
1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) IV. 110 In what Madame Boivin terms precipitation or complete prolapsus..any rational scheme of relief is entitled to encouragement.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > growth, movement, or curvature of parts > [noun] > growth in particular direction
precipitation1669
basifugal growth1875
1669 J. Rose Eng. Vineyard 18 The deepness, and fatness of the Earth, contributes more to the luxury of the branches..and precipitation of the roots, than to the just, and natural stature of the stem.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [noun] > steep > quality or condition of being
pronity1524
sharpness1585
suddenness1594
abruptness1603
steepiness1609
precipitationa1616
precipice1650
precipitousness1832
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. ii. 4 Let them..pile ten hilles on the Tarpeian Rocke, That the precipitation might downe stretch Below the beame of sight. View more context for this quotation
1890 T. De W. Talmage From Manger to Throne 53 The hills for width and precipitation are displays omnipotent.
II. Senses relating to haste.† 5. Rapid forward motion, rush; an instance of this. Obsolete.
3.
a. Sudden and hurried action, haste; quickness; abruptness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [noun] > haste > sudden
precipitation1502
suddenness1580
precipitance1629
precipitancy1631
1502 tr. Ordynarye of Crysten Men (de Worde) iv. vi. sig. s.ii He therin ought to procede demeurely dyscretly, & without preceptacyon [Fr. precipitacion] in chastysynge.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. x. 70 Mounting and falling from note to note such as be to them peculiar, and with more or lesse leasure or precip [it] ation.
1678 Spanish Hist. 165 That so he might undo me with greater precipitation.
1779 W. Hamilton Campi Phlegræi (Suppl.) 4 The smoke..was so intollerable, that we were under the necessity of quitting that curious spot with the utmost precipitation.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. vi. 264 ‘None, none!’ interrupted she, with precipitation.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby vii. 64 The lady having seized it with great precipitation, they retired.
1897 J. Conrad Nigger of ‘Narcissus’ iii. 49 He squirmed up with such precipitation that he seemed positively to escape from our hands like a bladder full of gas.
1935 D. Bennett Arnold Bennett xx. 151 When arrangements for living had to be made..he acted with precipitation.
2001 J. Nicolay Outbreak of Rebellion xiv. 175 His outposts everywhere retired..with such precipitation as to leave their tents, knapsacks, and even their freshly cooked rations behind.
b. Unduly hurried or unconsidered action; rashness, impetuosity. Also: a rash or hasty act.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [noun] > haste > foolish or reckless
foolhastinessc1390
fool hastea1393
swiftnessa1400
hastec1400
racklenessc1405
headlongness1556
precipitation1572
precipitancy1617
precipitance1629
precipitousnessa1660
precipitateness1671
precipitiousness1672
fool's haste1681
1572 T. Paynell tr. Amadis de Gaule Treasurie x. v. 236 Let vs take heede to proceede by ripe deliberation, fearing least we repent vs to much by leasure of our foolish precipitation and hastinesse.
1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) 53 The which barbarous fact, as it was condemned of all men, so it sheweth the Precipitation of his passionate ireful heart.
?1630 T. Adams Wks. 1117 Præcipitation in our workes, makes vs vnlike to God: heady foole, art thou wiser then thy Maker?
1646 W. Halwyn Whisper in Eare in W. Haller Tracts on Liberty (1933) III. 322 Preserve them from those precipitations their folly and malice labours to hasten.
1700 J. Astry tr. D. de Saavedra Fajardo Royal Politician I. 251 Precipitation is the effect of Madness, and generally the occasion of great Perils.
1794 S. Williams Nat. & Civil Hist. Vermont 397 Some philosophers, with great precipitation have pretended to decide it by system.
1870 B. Disraeli Lothair (new ed.) xi We must not act with precipitation.
1904 H. James Golden Bowl I. xii. 214 He was acting..not in precipitation, flurry, fever..but with the deliberation of a plan.
1960 A. Waley tr. Murasaki Shikibu Tale of Genji vi. ix. 990 Ben no Kimi..was completely taken aback at finding Kaoru behaving with such precipitation.
2003 L. Auchinloss Scarlet Lett. 65 ‘Too soon, too soon,’ she murmured, almost breathless at his precipitation.
4. The bringing about of something, esp. quickly, suddenly, or unexpectedly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > rapidity or speed of action or operation > [noun] > haste > action of causing
acceleration1490
hastening1545
properation1615
speedying1617
precipitation1621
hurry-up1944
1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) (Camden) 109 Then the precipitacion of justice (not hearing the proofes) is hyghe injustice.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 174 The common cause alleadged..is, a precipitation or over hasty exclusion before the birth be perfect. View more context for this quotation
1769 O. Goldsmith Rom. Hist. II. 488 This, in a great measure, gave precipitation to its downfall.
1882 F. W. Farrar Early Days Christianity I. 557 (note) He attributes to his death the precipitation of the ruin of Jerusalem.
1931 J. H. Rogers Amer. weighs her Gold x. 170 In the precipitation of the depression still other influences seem to have played a more prominent part.
1994 30 Days in Church & in World No. 4. 26/1 Alvin Toffler..coined the phrase ‘future shock’ to describe the sense of fear and bewilderment at the sudden precipitation of events.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > [noun] > impetuous
random?c1335
precipitation1628
precipitance1629
precipitancy1797
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. x. 26 Wee goe surest, when we post not in a precipitation.
1695 J. Woodward Ess. Nat. Hist. Earth 228 Here is none of the Hurry and Precipitation: none of the Blustering and Violence.
1705 R. Blackmore Eliza iii. 67 He still against all furious Bigots strove, Who with such wild Præcipitation drove, That they had set the Kingdom on a Flame.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. viii. 76 The violence of the current, which had set us with so much precipitation to the eastward.
1823 C. Lamb Praise of Chimney-sweepers in Elia 254 Pacing along Cheapside with my accustomed precipitation when I walk westward.
1894 H. R. Poore Rep. Indians 431 Up the rocky sides come lines of horses, burros, mules, and cattle in headlong precipitation, hurrying to escape long whips carried by the herders.
III. Technical senses.
6. Chiefly Chemistry.
a. The separation and deposition of a substance from solution in a liquid in a solid, often powdery or flocculent, form, as a result of chemical action, cooling, etc.; the formation of a precipitate; an instance of this; (Immunology) the combination of an antibody and an antigen to form an insoluble complex; (Metallurgy) the separation of crystals of a solute phase from a solid solution (cf. precipitation hardening n. at Compounds).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > chemical reactions or processes (named) > precipitation
precipitationa1550
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 > fact of depositing
precipitationa1550
precipitating1639
depot1794
deposition1799
depositation1806
deposit1823
a1550 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (Sloane 1873) (1975) 2783 Longe vessellis to precipitacion.
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate Terms 346 Precipitation is when bodies corroded by aqua fortis, or aqua Regia, and dissolued into water..are reuerberated into calx.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall xxxvii. 313 The precipitation of Benjamin, and some other Resinous Bodies.
1744 E. R. Seehl New Improvem. Art of making Sulphur 21 It..ought, during the Time of Precipitation, to deliver a stinking Smell, much like rotten Eggs.
1791 Philos. Trans. 1790 (Royal Soc.) 80 374 Upon adding iron to a solution of silver in the nitrous acid no precipitation ensued.
1806 W. Henry Epitome Chem. (ed. 4) i. i. 11 For precipitations, and separating liquids from precipitates, the decanting-jar will be found useful.
1874 G. E. Walton Mineral Springs U.S. & Canada (ed. 2) ii. 23 The whitish color frequently observed in sulphur-water is caused by the precipitation of sulphur.
1903 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 21 Mar. 655 The same explanations hold good for the action of the..precipitins, namely those substances in immune serums which cause precipitation when added to the fluids or solutions of substances used in immunization.
1926 Trans. Amer. Soc. Steel Treating 10 718 The hardness of an alloy may be increased by the precipitation of a soluble constituent from solid solution.
1967 A. H. Cottrell Introd. Metall. xx. 372 Cu-Be alloys soften rapidly by discontinuous precipitation at temperatures above about 300°C.
1990 T. G. Wreghitt & P. Morgan-Capner ELISA in Clin. Microbiol. Lab. viii. 110 Most of the polypeptides are antigenic, and this can be shown by immune precipitation with convalescent or hyperimmune antisera.
1992 Cambr. Encycl. Human Evol. (1994) v. iv. 187/2 Cave deposits are formed..by flowing water, by precipitation of CaCO3 as travertine, and by collapse of the cave roof.
b. A precipitated substance; a precipitate. Now rare.In quot. 1867 in a wider sense.
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
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
1605 T. Tymme tr. J. Du Chesne Pract. Chymicall & Hermeticall Physicke iii. 154 The same coagulating force..doth manifestly appeare in those preparations which are called precipitations.
1675 R. Boyle in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 10 468 Whether in some Solutions and Precipitations the Air..may not be found to produce some Phænomena not yet taken notice of.
1724 Philos. Trans. 1722–3 (Royal Soc.) 32 380 In the Solution of the common Salt, and first Newcastle Salt, the precipitations were white.
1867 H. Macmillan Bible Teachings (Pref.) 12 Our forests, corn-fields, and coal-beds are the solid precipitations of unseen carbonic acid gas in the atmosphere.
1996 New Phytologist 133 254/1 Species with high oxidizing abilities..often show iron hydroxide precipitations on the root surface.
7. Meteorology.
a. The condensation of moisture from water vapour in the atmosphere and its fall or deposition as rain, snow, dew, etc.; an instance of this, a shower of rain, snow, sleet, etc.
ΚΠ
1692 E. Halley in J. Ray Misc. Disc. v. 85 There was so strange a condensation, or rather precipitation of the Vapours.
1729 B. Annely Theory of Winds 4 There is always a vast quantity of Vapours contained in the Atmosphere, if we consider how much Water is constantly discharged from thence in Rain and other Precipitations.
1788 E. Darwin in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 78 48 There is, in these high provinces of the atmosphere, nothing else for the expanded air to acquire heat from, after the precipitation of its vapour.
1860 R. F. Burton in Jrnl. Royal Geogr. Soc. 1859 29 105 Thence the frequent precipitation of heavy rain, and the banks and sheets of morning cloud which veil the tree-clad peaks of the highest gradients.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 179 The excess of evaporation over precipitation in the northern portion of the land hemisphere.
1984 A. C. Duxbury & A. Duxbury Introd. World's Oceans i. 23 Precipitation returns this water to the earth's surface.
1994 High May 9/3 The mountain was well-endowed with snow after the heavy post monsoon precipitations.
b. Water that falls to or condenses on the ground as rain, snow, dew, etc.; the amount of this.
ΚΠ
1812 J. Playfair Outl. Nat. Philos. I. 309 Dew is a precipitation of humidity from the lower strata of the atmosphere.
1864 G. P. Marsh Man & Nature 436 Marriotte found that but one sixth of the precipitation in basin of the Seine was delivered into the sea by that river.
1952 J. A. Steers et al. Lake's Physical Geogr. (ed. 3) i. viii. 99 The total amount of water that falls on any given area, whether in the form of rain or snow or hail, is known as the precipitation, or more commonly (though not quite correctly) as the rainfall.
1992 R. M. Bone Geogr. Canad. North i. ii. 36 Nearly one-third of the annual precipitation falls as snow and is released during the spring melt.
8. Spiritualism. Assumption of a bodily form; materialization. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > the occult > spiritualism > [noun] > a spiritual body > materialization of
hylasmus1664
materialization1877
precipitation1891
1891 Pall Mall Gaz. 1 Oct. 2/3 A distinguished naturalist..repeatedly witnessed the process of materialization (precipitation) of a human figure slowly going on under his own eyes.
1915 R. Steiner in C. Bamford Spiritualism, M. Blavatsky, & Theosophy (2002) iii. xii. 187 The precipitation of substance far denser than other mineralized substance.
9. The removal and deposition of dust or other particulate matter from suspension in a gas, esp. by the application of a unidirectional electric field (more fully electric precipitation, electrical precipitation, electrostatic precipitation).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > chemical reactions or processes > [noun] > chemical reactions or processes (named) > precipitation > from a gas or solute
precipitation1908
1908 F. G. Cottrell U.S. Patent 895,729 2/1 The gases or vapors containing the suspended particles enter the precipitation chamber A through pipe B.
1912 Metall. & Chem. Engin. 10 686/2 Electrical precipitation of suspended particles.
1918 U.S. Patent 1,264,510 1/2 I propose to separate the phosphorus pentoxid solids by electrostatic precipitation.
1920 Whittaker's Electr. Engin. Pocket-bk. (ed. 4) 651 The Electric Precipitation of Smoke and Fumes.
1944 W. Morgan in R. Greenhalgh Pract. Builder ix. 317/2 The articles are plated with zinc by electrical precipitation.
1974 Encycl. Brit. Macropædia IV. 161/1 Electrostatic precipitation is a method for the precipitation of fogs.
1992 D. M. Muir Dust & Fume Control (rev. ed.) ii. 4 Conditioning..might involve increasing the humidity of a dry gas stream to assist precipitation of a difficult dust.
2001 Heating, Piping, Air Conditioning (Nexis) 1 Apr. 59 The first section of the unit provides for electric precipitation of particles and gives 90-percent filtration of 1-micron particles.
Compounds
precipitation-hardened adj. Metallurgy treated or hardened by precipitation hardening.
ΚΠ
1933 Brit. Patent 402,742 2/1 The method of making an alloy.., which consists in subjecting a precipitation-hardened starting material or mass..to a nitrogenising treatment.
1997 Science 29 Aug. 1183 Precipitation-hardened aluminium alloys..are the backbone of many airframes.
precipitation hardening n. Metallurgy hardening of an alloy by heat treatment that causes the precipitation from solid solution of crystals of a solute phase; a strengthening process utilizing this phenomenon.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with metal > [noun] > hardening, tempering, or annealing > other types of hardening
case-hardening1666
precipitation hardening1926
martempering1943
shot-peening1944
marquenching1947
1926 R. S. Archer in Trans. Amer. Soc. Steel Treating 10 719 It is proposed in this paper..to develop the general theory of what may be called ‘precipitation hardening’.
1931 Jrnl. Iron & Steel Inst. 124 671 The binary iron-boron alloys were incapable of hardening by quenching and the precipitation hardening was hardly noticeable.
1989 A. C. Davies Sci. & Pract. Welding (ed. 9) I. ii. 130 As time passes the constituents precipitate into a more uniform pattern in the alloy and the strength and hardness increase. This is known as natural age-hardening or precipitation hardening and can be from a few hours to many months.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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