from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Precarious \Pre*ca"ri*ous\, a. [L. precarius obtained by begging
or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another,
fr. precari to pray, beg. See {Pray}.]
1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by
courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of
another; as, precarious privileges. --Addison.
[1913 Webster]
2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or
events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on
for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious
state of health; precarious fortunes. "Intervals of
partial and precarious liberty." --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious;
equivocal.
Usage: {Precarious}, {Uncertain}. Precarious in stronger than
uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari,
it first signified "granted to entreaty," and, hence,
"wholly dependent on the will of another." Thus it
came to express the highest species of uncertainty,
and is applied to such things as depend wholly on
future casualties.
[1913 Webster] -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly}, adv. --
{Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]