The Only Use of
precipitate
in
The Great Gatsby
- There is no confusion like the confusion of a simple mind, and as we drove away Tom was feeling the hot whips of panic. His wife and his mistress, until an hour ago secure and inviolate, were slipping precipitately from his control.
p. 125.2precipitately = suddenly
Definitions:
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(1)
(precipitate as in: a precipitate decision) acting with great haste -- often without adequate thought
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(2)
(precipitate as in: it precipitated a revolution) make something happen or to fall or move -- typically suddenly and often of something undesired
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(3)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
In chemistry, the verb form denotes separating solids from a solution; while the noun form references the solid particles in such a solution. It is from this sense that meteorologists refer to rain or snow as precipitation.
In classic literature, the word is sometimes used as a verb to indicated falling from a high spot such as "a false step could precipitate them down off the cliff," or throwing as in "If they attempt to precipitate themselves upon him...".