precipice
英['presɪpɪs]
美['prɛsəpɪs]
词态变化
复数: precipices;助记提示
1. pre- "before, forth" + cipit- => precipit- => precipic- (进入法语后的音变变体) + -e => precipice.
2. 本义为：头向前、朝前倾斜。很显然这就是顶部朝前倾斜，顶部向前突出，这就很像悬崖的样子了，所以由此就引申为：悬崖，峭壁。又由此引申为被逼到悬崖边上的那种危险情况。中文词源
precipice 悬崖pre-,在前，-cip,头，词源同cap,captain.即头在前，一头栽下，引申词义陡坡，陡崖，悬崖等。
英文词源
- precipice
- precipice: [16] The etymological notion underlying precipice is of falling ‘headlong’. It comes via French précipice from Latin praecipitium ‘headlong fall, steep place’. This was derived from praecipitāre ‘throw headlong’ (source of English precipitate [16] and precipitous [17]), a verb based on the adjective praeceps ‘headlong, steep’. This in turn was a compound formed from the prefix prae- ‘in front’ and caput ‘head’ (source of English capital, captain, etc).
=> capital, captain, chief - precipice (n.)
- "steep face of rock," 1630s, from Middle French précipice, from Latin praecipitium "a steep place," literally "a fall or leap," from praeceps (genitive praecipitis) "steep, headlong, headfirst," from prae "before, forth" (see pre-) + caput "head" (see head (n.)). Earlier in English as a verb (1590s) meaning "fall to great depth."
双语例句
- 1. The hut hung half over the edge of the precipice.
- 那间小屋有一半悬在峭壁边上.
来自《简明英汉词典》
- 2. They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice.
- 他们离悬崖边很近,十分危险.
来自《简明英汉词典》
- 3. A slight carelessness on this precipice could cost a man his life.
- 在这悬崖上稍一疏忽,就会使人丧生.
来自《简明英汉词典》
- 4. Watching him climb up the precipice, everybody was breathless with anxiety.
- 看着他往悬崖上爬, 大家都捏一把汗.
来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- 5. The climber fell down a precipice.
- 爬山者跌下了悬崖.
来自《简明英汉词典》