Pre"cious (?), a.
Particular; fastidious; overnice;
overrefined. Cf. Précieuse, Preciosity.
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.
Chaucer.
Elaborate embroidery of precious language.
Saintsbury.
Pre"cious (?), a. [OF. precious,
precius, precios, F.
précieux, L. pretiosus, fr.
pretium price, worth,
value. See Price.]
1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.
2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed;
dear; beloved; as, precious
recollections.
She is more precious than
rules.
Prov. iii. 15. Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of
them lieth hid.
Hooker. Also
used ironically; as, a precious rascal.
3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.
Chaucer. Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp.
gold and silver. -- Precious
stones, gems; jewels.
Hear it pronounced