precise
UK[prɪˈsaɪs]US[prɪˈsaɪs]
adj
exact and accurate in all details
adj
used to emphasize that one is referring to an exact thing
Morpheme Breakdown
pre
cise
pre
before
cise
cut
Etymology
the word 'precise' originates from the latin praecisus, the past participle of praecidere, meaning 'to cut off in front' or 'to shorten'. this literal sense of cutting something off or trimming it down evolved into the figurative meaning of setting clear boundaries or limits. consequently, the modern abstract meaning of 'precise' emerged, denoting something that is sharply defined, exact, and free from vagueness, as if it had been neatly cut to a specific measure.
Analysis
Structure: pre (before) + cise (cut)
pre- (latin prefix, meaning 'before' or 'in advance'); -cise (from latin caesus, past participle of caedere, meaning 'to cut')
Examples
the witness gave a precise description of the suspect.
the recipe requires precise measurements of the ingredients.
we arrived at the precise moment the show began.