# precipice

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs/ · frequency rank #39,038

## Definitions
1. A very steep cliff.
2. The brink of a dangerous situation.
3. A headlong fall or descent.

## Etymology
First attested in 1598, from Middle French precipice, from Latin praecipitium (“a steep place”), from praeceps (“steep”), from prae + caput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“head”).
Distantly related to precept through Latin praecipiō (“to teach”), from prae + capiō (“take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-, *keh₂p- (“to hold; to seize”).

## Common misspellings (13)
`percipice`, `pprecipice`, `prceipice`, `preccipice`, `preciipce`, `precipcie`, `precipicce`, `precipiec`, `precippice`, `precpiice`, `preicpice`, `prrecipice`, `rpecipice`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/precipice