precipice

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*kap-, *keh₂p-“to hold; to seize”
2. Latin · derived frompraecipiō“to teach”
3. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*kap-“head”
4. Latin · derived frompraecipitium“a steep place”
5. Middle French · borrowed fromprecipice
6. English todayprecipice

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”).

Words from the same roots