precise: [16] Something that is precise is etymologically ‘cut off in front’. The word was acquired via French précis (subsequently borrowed as the noun précis ‘summary’ in the 18th century) from Latin praecīsus, an adjectival use of the past participle of praecīdere ‘shorten’. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix prae- ‘in front’ and caedere ‘cut’ (source also of English concise, decide, excise, etc). The notion of being ‘shortened’ gradually slipped via ‘expressed shortly, leaving out extraneous matter’ to ‘exact’. => concise, decide, excise, précis
precise (adj.)
mid-15c., from Middle French précis "condensed, cut short" (14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin precisus, from Latin praecisus "abrupt, abridged, cut off," past participle of praecidere "to cut off, shorten," from prae "before" (see pre-) + caedere "to cut" (see -cide; for Latin vowel change, see acquisition). Related: Precisely (late 14c.).
双语例句
1. Elgar supplied his works with precise indications of tempo.
埃尔加给自己的作品标上了精确的节奏标记。
来自柯林斯例句
2. I seem to remember giving you very precise instructions.
我好像记得给过你非常明确的指示。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Each motion must be delicate and precise, involving tiny movements.
每一个动作都必须小心、准确,一点点地移动。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The precise details of the origins of life remain hidden.
生命起源的确切详情仍是个谜。
来自柯林斯例句
5. It was difficult to measure the precise impact of the labor action.