precipice
UK: /ˈprɛsɪpɪs/ | US: /ˈprɛsəpəs/
n. 1. A very steep or overhanging mass of rock, such as the face of a cliff.
n. 2. A situation of great peril or instability, often implying imminent danger.
precipice = pre<before> + cip<fall> + ice<noun suffix>
- pre (from Latin prae-, meaning "before" or "ahead")
- cip (from Latin capere, meaning "to fall" or "to take," here adapted to "fall")
- ice (a noun-forming suffix, often indicating a state or condition)
Etymology Origin:
The word "precipice" originates from the Latin praecipitium, combining prae- ("before") and caput ("head"), metaphorically suggesting a "headlong fall." Over time, it evolved in Old French as precipice, retaining the sense of a steep drop or dangerous brink. The morpheme cip reflects the idea of falling, while pre emphasizes the forward or abrupt nature of the descent. This vivid imagery underlies both its literal (physical cliff) and figurative (perilous situation) meanings.
The hikers cautiously avoided the edge of the precipice.
The company stood on the precipice of financial collapse.
A single misstep could send you tumbling down the precipice.
The novel’s climax left the protagonist on a moral precipice.
The mountain trail ended abruptly at a sheer precipice.