precipitant

See also: précipitant

English

Etymology

From Old French precipitant, from Latin praecipitans, present participle of praecipitare (“to cast down headlong”), from praeceps (“head foremost, headlong”), from prae (“before”) + caput (“head”).

Adjective

precipitant (comparative more precipitant, superlative most precipitant)

  1. That falls headlong, or causes a headlong fall.
    • J. Philips
      They leave their little lives / Above the clouds, precipitant to earth.
  2. Rash or impulsive.
  3. Sudden or unexpected.
  4. (chemistry) That causes precipitation.

Noun

precipitant (plural precipitants)

  1. A substance that forms a precipitate when added to a solution.

Further reading

  • precipitant in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • precipitant in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • precipitant at OneLook Dictionary Search
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