PRECIOUS

cute, precious

(adjective) obviously contrived to charm; “an insufferably precious performance”; “a child with intolerably cute mannerisms”

cherished, precious, treasured, wanted

(adjective) characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for; “a cherished friend”; “children are precious”; “a treasured heirloom”; “so good to feel wanted”

precious

(adjective) of high worth or cost; “diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones”

valued, precious

(adjective) held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature; “a valued friend”; “precious memories”

precious, preciously

(adverb) extremely; “there is precious little time left”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

precious (comparative more precious, superlative most precious)

Of high value or worth.

Regarded with love or tenderness.

(pejorative) Treated with too much reverence.

(pejorative) Contrived to be cute or charming.

Synonyms

• (of high value): dear, valuable

• (contrived to charm): saccharine, syrupy, twee

Noun

precious (plural preciouses)

Someone (or something) who is loved; a darling.

Adverb

precious (not comparable)

Very; an intensifier.

Usage notes

This adverb is chiefly used before few and little; usage with other adjectives (slight, small, scant) is much more sporadic, and is in any case limited to the semantic field of “little, small, scarce, few”.

Proper noun

Precious

A surname.

A female given name from English.

Source: Wiktionary

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Pre"cious, a. Etym: [OF. precious, precius, precios, F. précieux, 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.

Note: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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