Defn: Any force or reagent which causes the formation of a precipitate.
PRECIPITANTLY
Pre*cip"i*tant*ly, adv.
Defn: With rash or foolish haste; in headlong manner. Milton.
PRECIPITANTNESS
Pre*cip"i*tant*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being precipitant; precipitation.
PRECIPITATE Pre*cip"i*tate, a. Etym: [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See Precipice.]
1. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in declaring war. Clarendon.
2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done before the time; as, a precipitate measure. "The rapidity of our too precipitate course." Landor.
3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent; headlong. Precipitate the furious torrent flows. Prior.
4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.