precise English · revision 7549

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1443|origins=la praecido}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pɹɪˈsaɪs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|précis|t=condensed, cut short]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) and directly Medieval Latin precisus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from Latin praecisus, abridged, cut off, past participle of [[m|la|praecido|alt=praecīdere|t=to cut off, shorten]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from prae-, in front, and caedere, to cut (see [[excise]], [[concise]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Exact, neither more nor less: about 1443 in Barnhart, the mid-15th century in Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) definitely expressed, 1526 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Strictly formal or correct, punctilious, is first recorded in Palsgrave (1530),^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and especially strict in religious observance, in the 16th and 17th centuries puritanical, from 1566;^(OED 1989) the noun [[precisian]] was a name for a Puritan.^(Hoad 1986) Of an instrument, accurate, is from 1561.^(OED 1989) Distinguished from all others, very, is from 1628.^(OED 1989) Of the voice, distinctly uttered, is from 1848.^(OED 1989) ''Precisely'' is late 14th century in Etymonline and the 15th century in Hoad.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1443 – exact.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1530 – punctilious.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1566 – strict in religion.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1628 – this very one.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1848 – of the voice.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Clearly stated; [[definite]].^(AHD)

+ # [[exact|alt=Exact]] or [[accurate]], as in amount or performance.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Particular; this and no other: ''at that precise moment''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Strictly following rules or proper form; [[scrupulous]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[preciseness]]

+ * [[precisely]]

+ * [[overprecise]]

+ * [[precisian]]

+ * [[superprecise]]

+ * [[ultraprecise]]

+ * [[unprecise]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[precision]]

+ * [[concise]]

+ * [[decide]]

+ * [[excise]]

+ * [[scissors]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}