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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections. [ 1913 Webster ] She is more precious than rules. Prov. iii. 15. [ 1913 Webster ] Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ] Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. Particular; fastidious; overnice; overrefined. Cf. Précieuse, Preciosity. [ 1913 Webster ] Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] Elaborate embroidery of precious language. Saintsbury. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. --
Precious stones, gems; jewels. [ 1913 Webster ]
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