Part 469

2. The head of a preceptory among the Knights Templars. Sir W. Scott.

Pre`cep*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a preceptor.

Pre*cep"to*ry (?; 277), a. Preceptive. "A law preceptory." Anderson (1573).

Pre*cep"to*ry, n.; pl. Preceptories (#). [LL. praeceptoria an estate assigned to a preceptor, from L. praeceptor a commander, ruler, teacher, in LL., procurator, administrator among the Knights Templars. See Preceptor.] A religious house of the Knights Templars, subordinate to the temple or principal house of the order in London. See Commandery, n., 2.

Pre*cep"tress (?), n. A woman who is the principal of a school; a female teacher.

Pre*ces"sion (?), n. [L. praecedere, praecessum, to go before: cf. F. prÈcession. See Precede.] The act of going before, or forward.

Lunisolar precession. (Astron.) See under Lunisolar. -- Planetary precession, that part of the precession of the equinoxes which depends on the action of the planets alone. -- Precession of the equinoxes (Astron.), the slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, at the rate of 50.2″ annually, caused by the action of the sun, moon, and planets, upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator, in connection with its diurnal rotation; -- so called because either equinox, owing to its westerly motion, comes to the meridian sooner each day than the point it would have occupied without the motion of precession, and thus precedes that point continually with reference to the time of transit and motion.

Pre*ces"sion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to pression; as, the precessional movement of the equinoxes.

Pre*ces"sor (?), n. [L. praecessor.] A predecessor. [Obs.] Fuller.

Pre"cinct (?; 277), n. [LL. praecinctum, fr. L. praecingere, praecinctum, to gird about, to encompass; prae before + cingere to gird, surround. See Pre-, and Cincture.] 1. The limit or exterior line encompassing a place; a boundary; a confine; limit of jurisdiction or authority; -- often in the plural; as, the precincts of a state. "The precincts of light." Milton.

2. A district within certain boundaries; a minor territorial or jurisdictional division; as, an election precinct; a school precinct.

3. A parish or prescribed territory attached to a church, and taxed for its support. [U.S.]

The parish, or precinct, shall proceed to a new choice.

Laws of Massachusetts.

Pre`ci*os"i*ty (?), n. Preciousness; something precious. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Pre"cious (?), a. [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. prÈcieux, L. pretiosus, fr. pretium price, worth, value. See Price.] 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone. "The precious bane." Milton.

2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed; dear; beloved; as, precious recollections.

She is more precious than rules.

Prov. iii. 15.

Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid.

Hooker.

Also used ironically; as, a precious rascal.

3. Particular; fastidious; overnice. [Obs.]

Lest that precious folk be with me wroth.

Chaucer.

Precious metals, the uncommon and highly valuable metals, esp. gold and silver. -- Precious stones, gems; jewels.

Pre"cious*ly, adv. In a precious manner; expensively; extremely; dearly. Also used ironically.

Pre"cious*ness, n. The quality or state of being precious; costliness; dearness.