Prĕ'ciŏŭs, a.
(prēsh'us), a. [O. Fr. precious, précieux, précieux, N. Fr. précieux, Pr. precios, pretios, Sp. & Pg. precioso, It. prezioso, Lat. pretiosus, from pretium, price, worth, value. See PRICE and PRAISE.]
Sense 1. Of great price; costly; as, a precious stone.
Sense 2. Of great value or worth; very valuable; highly esteemed.
She is more precious than rubies. Prov. iii. 15.
Many things which are most precious are neglected only because the value of them lieth hid. Hooker.
Sense 3. Worthless; contemptible; as, this is a precious mockery;—so used in irony or contempt. Burke.
Congregation of the Most Precious Blood (Rom. Cath. Church), an order of clerks or priests, established to promote the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It was introduced into the United States, in 1844, from Germany. The members of the order educate persons for the ministry, and also act as missionaries. There are also nuns of this order, who devote themselves to the education of females, and the care of orphans.—Precious metals, gold and silver;—so called on account of their value.—Precious stones, jewels.