English word precious comes from Proto-Indo-European *preti-, and later Latin pretiosus (Valuable, precious, expensive, costly.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *preti- | Proto-Indo-European (ine) | |
| pretium | Latin (lat) | Bribe. Pay, hire, wage, reward. Punishment. Ransom. Worth, price, value, cost. |
| pretiosus | Latin (lat) | Valuable, precious, expensive, costly. |
| precios | Old French (842-ca. 1400) (fro) | |
| precious | Middle English (1100-1500) (enm) | |
| precious | English (en) | Very; an intensifier. (pejorative) Contrived to be cute or charming.. (pejorative) Treated with too much reverence.. Of high value or worth, or seemingly regarded as such.. Regarded with love or tenderness. Someone (or something) who is loved; a darling. |