Pre·cious a.
1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. “The precious bane.”
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; overrefined. Cf. Précieuse, Preciosity.
Lest that precious folk be with me wroth. --Chaucer.
Elaborate embroidery of precious language. --Saintsbury.
Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver.
Precious stones, gems; jewels.
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