noun

precipice

precipice, cliff face

The car stopped at the edge of the precipice.

The car stopped at the edge of the precipice.

The country is on the precipice of war.

The country is on the precipice of war.

((on the edge of a/the)) ((precipice)) on the edge of a/the precipice He stood on the edge of the precipice.

Synonyms: cliff, bluff, crag

From Latin `praecipitium` 'a steep place', from `praeceps` 'steep, headlong', from `prae-` 'before' + `caput` 'head'.

Imagine falling 'head' first (from `caput`) from a great height. That's a precipice.

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