Etymology Map
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Precise

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means exact and accurate

Where does the word "precise" come from? It comes from Latin praecisus, passing through French before entering English (1540s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
praecisus
Latin · ancient
"cut short"
from 'praecidere', to cut off
2
Stage 2 of 3
precis
French · 1500s
"precise"
the English Puritans were mocked as 'precisians' for their strictness
3
Stage 3 of 3
precise
English · 1540s
"exact"
'précis', a summary, comes from the same word
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Read the full story

Precise’s story begins in Latin: praecisus meant “cut short.” From 'praecidere', to cut off. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as precis. The English Puritans were mocked as 'precisians' for their strictness. It reached English by 1540s as precise. 'précis', a summary, comes from the same word. Today, precise means exact and accurate.