WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Pre"cious
Part of Speech : a.
Etymology : [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. pr?cieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.]
Definition : 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913