Precary
/ˈprɛkəri/noun
Rare or archaic: dependent on prayer, entreaty, or another’s favor; precarious.
Did you know?Precary comes from the same Latin prayer-root as “pray,” while “precarious” originally described something granted only at another person’s pleasure—never securely yours.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*prek-
“To ask, entreat, or make a solemn request”
Classical Latin
Latin
precārī
“To pray, beg, or entreat”
Classical Latin
Latin
precārius
“Obtained by entreaty; dependent on another’s favor”
Late Latin
Latin
precārius
“Granted as a favor and therefore uncertain or revocable”
17th Century
English
precary
“Dependent on prayer or favor; precarious”
Modern English
English
precary
“A rare archaic adjective meaning dependent, uncertain, or obtained by entreaty”
Explore more surprising origins