Syntaxiom

precariously

/pɹɪˈkɛɹiəsɫi/ adv

In a precarious manner; dangerously.

Word Origin Precarious comes from Latin precarius 'obtained by prayer', from precari 'to pray'. Something precarious is held only by a prayer, dependent on the will of another. So precariously means 'in a prayer-dependent way'. The same root gives us pray, prayer, deprecate (to pray against), and imprecate (to call down a curse). The PIE root *prek- means 'to ask, entreat'.

adv In a precarious manner; dangerously.

The ancient vase was balanced precariously on the edge of the shelf.

(副词) 危险地；岌岌可危地

那个古老的花瓶危险地悬在架子边缘。

(adverbio) precariamente; peligrosamente; de forma precaria [De manera precaria; peligrosamente.]

El antiguo jarrón estaba equilibrado precariamente en el borde del estante.

(adverbe) précairement; dangereusement; en équilibre instable [D'une manière instable ou dangereuse, en risquant de tomber ou de basculer.]

Le vase ancien était posé de façon précaire au bord de l'étagère.

(Adverb) wackelig; gefährlich; unsicher; prekär [**Precariously** (auf unsichere Weise): in einer Weise, die instabil, gefährlich oder leicht störbar ist; mit hohem Risiko des Scheiterns oder Umkippens.]

Die antike Vase stand **precariously** am Rand des Regals.

(副詞) 不安定な状態で。危険にさらされるように。

古代の壺は、棚の縁に不安定な状態で置かれていた。

(advérbio) precariamente; perigosamente; instavelmente [De maneira precária; perigosamente.]

O vaso antigo estava equilibrado precariamente na borda da prateleira.

Synonyms: insecurely dangerously hazardously perilously riskily unsafely uncertainly unsteadily Antonyms: safely securely stably firmly
Word parts: precarious + ly

Common collocations

on prep of prep to prep balance verb perch verb edge subst cling verb with prep lean verb side subst narrow adj stand verb

Related words

precarious precariousness prayer deprecate deprecation deprecatory imprecation

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