Pre·ci'sion, n.

(-sĭzh'un), n. [Fr. précision, Sp. precisión, It. precisione, Lat. præcisio. See supra.] The quality of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy.

Synonyms— Preciseness; exactness; accuracy; nicety. — PRECISION, PRECISENESS. Precision denotes a strict conformity to rule as opposed to every thing vague, indefinite, or uncertain, and is always used in a good sense; as, precision of thought or language; precision in military evolutions, &c. Preciseness is frequently taken in a bad sense, especially when applied to persons or their conduct, denoting an excess of nicety, formal manners, &c. Precise is also sometimes applied to individuals in the sense of over-strict or scrupulous in trifles. “He that thinks of being in general, thinks never of any particular species of being, unless he can think of it with and without precision at the same time.” Locke. “When you have fixed proper hours for particular studies, keep to them, not with a superstitious preciseness, but with some good degrees of a regular constancy.” Watts.