precipitation

Where does the word "precipitation" come from? It comes from Latin praecipitare, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Precipitation’s story begins in Latin: praecipitare meant “to throw headlong.” To throw headlong, from prae- (before) and caput (head). It reached English by 1600s as precipitation. From Latin 'praeceps', headlong; chemists also use it for solids forming in a solution. Today, precipitation means water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient praecipitare "to throw headlong", to throw headlong, from prae- (before) and caput (head).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s precipitation "water falling from the sky as rain, snow, or hail", from Latin 'praeceps', headlong; chemists also use it for solids forming in a solution.