precipitant

comparative more precipitant · superlative most precipitant

1. Inclined to make rapid decisions without due consideration; hasty, impulsive, rash.

   She had good Qualities—is generous—noble—but has ſtrong Paſſions, and is thoughtleſs and precipitant.

   1742, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXXIV”, in Pamela; Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume IV, London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; and sold by J. Osborn, […]; and J[ohn] Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 224

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   [T]heſe dreams the præcipitant and unskilfull are forvvard to conceit to be Repreſentations extraordinary and ſupernatural, vvhich they call Revelations or Viſions, of vvhich there can be no certainty at all no more then of a Dream.

   1656, Philophilus Parresiastes [pseudonym; Henry More], Enthusiasmus Triumphatus, or, A Discourse of the Nature, Causes, Kinds, and Cure, of Enthusiasme; […], London: […] J[ames] Flesher, and are to be sold by W[illiam] Morden […], →OCLC, paragraph 27, page 27

   Synonyms: heedless, hotheaded, impetuous, daring, devil-may-care, headstrong, heedless, impetuous

2. Of a fall: straight downwards; headlong.

   [W]ithout further pauſe / Down right into the Worlds firſt Region throws / His flight precipitant, and windes with eaſe / Through the pure marble Air his oblique way / Amongſt innumerable Starrs, […]

   1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 561–565

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   [H]eedleſs vvhile they [the birds] ſtrain / Their tuneful Throats, the tovv'ring, heavy Lead [i.e., bullets] / O'er-takes their Speed; they leave their little Lives / Above the clouds, præcipitant to Earth.

   1708, [John Philips], “Book II”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 59

   Synonyms: precipitate

3. figurativelyActing, happening, or moving quickly; fast, rapid, swift; also, abrupt, sudden, unexpected.

   Shou'd he return, that troop ſo blithe and bold, / VVith purple robes invvrought, and ſtiff vvith gold, / Precipitant in fear, vvou'd vving their flight, / And curſe their cumbrous pride's unvvieldy vveight.

   1725, Homer, “Book I”, in [Elijah Fenton], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume I, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 26, lines 211–214

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   [W]ere the Aer copiouſly mixed vvith the Sap here, as in the Pith, Fruit, and other Parenchymous Parts; it vvould give ſo quick a Ferment to the Sap, as to dilate and amplify the Bladders of the Seed, beyond its preſent compact and durable Texture; and ſo expoſe it, either to a precipitant Grovvth, or ſudden Rot.

   1676 November 19 (Gregorian calendar), Nehemiah Grew, “The Anatomy of Leaves, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds. […] The Fourth Book. Chapter V. Of the Use of the Attire.”, in The Anatomy of Plants. […], [London]: […] W. Rawlins, for the author, published 1682, →OCLC, part II (The Anatomy of Flowers, […]), page 172

   Synonyms: cursory, express, fast, expeditious, feverish, fleet, fleeting, greased lightning · Antonyms: crawling, slack, slow-moving, languid, languorous, draggy, tardy, creeping

4. chemistryThat causes precipitation (“formation of a heavier solid in a lighter liquid as a result of a chemical reaction”).

comparative more precipitant · superlative most precipitant

1. archaicSynonym of precipitantly (“in a precipitant or headlong manner; with foolish or rash haste”).

   The Hoary Froſts, and Northern Blaſts take care / Thy muddy Bev'rage to ſerene, and drive / Præcipitant the baſer, ropy Lees.

   1708, [John Philips], “Book II”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 68

   Synonyms: precipitantly

plural precipitants

1. Something which causes or hastens the occurrence of an act or event; specifically (chiefly psychology), something which brings about a mental or physiological condition.
2. chemistryA substance that, when added to a solution, causes a dissolved substance to form a precipitate.

   [B]y putting ſome of the arſenical liquor into a ſtrong ſolution of common ſublimate made in fair vvater […] vve had a copious precipitate, ſuch as might have been expected from an alcaline precipitant; […]

   1685, Robert Boyle, “Short Memoirs for the Natural Experimental History of Mineral Waters. […]”, in The Works of the Honourable Robert Boyle. […], volume IV, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, […], published 1744, →OCLC, page 241, column 2