precariousness

[pri-kair-ee-uhs]

pre·car·i·ous

[pri-kair-ee-uhs]
adjective
1.
dependent on circumstances beyond one's control; uncertain; unstable; insecure: a precarious livelihood.
2.
dependent on the will or pleasure of another; liable to be withdrawn or lost at the will of another: He held a precarious tenure under an arbitrary administration.
3.
exposed to or involving danger; dangerous; perilous; risky: the precarious life of an underseas diver.
4.
having insufficient, little, or no foundation: a precarious assumption.

Origin:
1640–50; < Latin precārius obtained by entreaty or mere favor, hence uncertain. See prayer1

pre·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
pre·car·i·ous·ness, noun
su·per·pre·car·i·ous, adjective
su·per·pre·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
su·per·pre·car·i·ous·ness, noun
EXPAND
un·pre·car·i·ous, adjective
un·pre·car·i·ous·ly, adverb
un·pre·car·i·ous·ness, noun
COLLAPSE


1. unsure, unsteady. See uncertain. 2. doubtful, dubious, unreliable, undependable. 3. hazardous. 4. groundless, baseless, unfounded.


1. secure. 2. reliable. 3. safe. 4. well-founded.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Precariousness is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
Collins
World English Dictionary
precarious (prɪˈkɛərɪəs)
 
adj
1.  liable to failure or catastrophe; insecure; perilous
2.  archaic dependent on another's will
 
[C17: from Latin precārius obtained by begging (hence, dependent on another's will), from prexprayer1]
 
pre'cariously
 
adv
 
pre'cariousness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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