Category:Precious

Pre"cious, a. Etym: [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.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; Beloved; as, precious recollections. She is more precious than rules. Prov. iii. 15. Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the Value of them lieth hid. Hooker.

Note: also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [obs.] Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. Chaucer. Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold And silver. -- precious stones, gems; jewels.