\Pre*ca"ri*ous\, a. [L. precarius obtained by begging
or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another,
fr. precari to pray, beg. See {Pray}.]
1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by
   courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of
   another; as, precarious privileges. --Addison.
2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or
   events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on
   for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious
   state of health; precarious fortunes. ``Intervals of
   partial and precarious liberty.'' --Macaulay.
Syn: Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious;
     equivocal.
Usage: {Precarious}, {Uncertain}. Precarious in stronger than
       uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari,
       it first signified ``granted to entreaty,'' and,
       hence, ``wholly dependent on the will of another.''
       Thus it came to express the highest species of
       uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend
       wholly on future casualties. -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly},
       adv. -- {Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness}, n.