precious (c as sh)

& adv. [O. Fr. precios, precieus (Fr. précieux ), from Lat. pretiosus = valuable; pretium = price, value; Sp. & Port. precioso; Ital. prezioso.] [PRICE.] A. As adjective : 1. Of great price or value; very costly. "A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it."- Prov . xvii. 8. 2. Of great value or worth: very valuable, bighly esteemed. ( Milton : P. L. , iii. 611.) 3. Very great or large; considerable. ( Colloq . or slang .) 4. Worthle , rascally. (Used in irony or con*5. Fastidious, over-nice. tempt.) "But lest that precious folk be with me wroth, How that he wrought, I dare not to you tell." Chaucer: C. T., 9,837. B. As adv.: Very. ( Colloq . or slang .) precious-garnet, s. [ALMANDINE.] precious-metals, subst . pl . Gold and silver, so called on account of their value. precious-opal, s. Min .: A very pure variety of opal, exhibiting a play of bright and contrasting colors. The most durable are obtained from the mines of Czerwenitza, Hungary; those from Mexico, when first found, surpa them, however, in vividne of color.