is devoutly to address the Supreme
Being with reverent petition for divine grace or any favor or blessing,
and in the fullest sense with thanksgiving and praise for the divine
goodness and mercy; the once common use of the word to express any
earnest _request_, as "I _pray_ you to come in," is now rare, unless in
writings molded on older literature, or in certain phrases, as "_Pray_
sit down;" even in these "please" is more common; "I _beg_ you" is also
frequently used, as expressing a polite humility of _request_. _Beseech_
and _entreat_ express great earnestness of _petition_; _implore_ and
_supplicate_ denote the utmost fervency and intensity, _supplicate_
implying also humility. Compare ASK; PLEAD.

* * * * *

PRECARIOUS.

Synonyms:

doubtful, hazardous, risky, unsettled,
dubious, insecure, unassured, unstable,
equivocal, perilous, uncertain, unsteady.

_Uncertain_ is applied to things that human knowledge can not certainly
determine or that human power can not certainly control; _precarious_
originally meant dependent on the will of another, and now, by extension
of meaning, dependent on chance or hazard, with manifest unfavorable
possibility verging toward probability; as, one holds office by a
_precarious_ tenure, or land by a _precarious_ title; the strong man's
hold on life is _uncertain_, the invalid's is _precarious_.

Antonyms:

actual, immutable, real, steady, undeniable,
assured, incontestable, settled, strong, undoubted,
certain, infallible, stable, sure, unquestionable.
firm,

* * * * *

PRECEDENT.

Synonyms:

antecedent, case, instance, pattern,
authority, example, obiter dictum, warrant.

A _precedent_ is an authoritative _case_, _example_, or _instance_. The
communism of the early Christians in Jerusalem is a wonderful _example_
or _instance_ of Christian liberality, but not a _precedent_ for the
universal church through all time. _Cases_ decided by irregular or
unauthorized tribunals are not _precedents_ for the regular
administration of law. An _obiter dictum_ is an opinion outside of the
_case_ in hand, which can not be quoted as an authoritative _precedent_.
Compare CAUSE; EXAMPLE.

* * * * *

PREDESTINATION.

Synonyms:

fate, foreknowledge, foreordination, necessity.

_Predestination_ is a previous d