precipitously

Adverb
Synonyms: sharply

WordNet 3.0

Adverb (2)

  1. very suddenly and to a great degree“conditions that precipitously increase the birthrate”“prices rose sharply”Synonyms: sharply
  2. abruptly; in a precipitous manner“the mountains rose precipitously from the shore”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Precipitous \Pre*cip"i*tous\, a. [L. praeceps, -cipitis: cf. OF. precipiteux. See Precipice.]

1.Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain. [1913 Webster]

2.Headlong; as, precipitous fall. [1913 Webster]

3.Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. --Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous `Hush!'" --Mrs. Browning. [1913 Webster] -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Pre*cip"i*tous*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

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