An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. Definitely or sharply stated, or defined.
   

2. Designating → precision.
   

See also: → accurate, → exact.

Etymology (EN): M.E., from M.Fr. précis “cut short” from M.L. precisus, from L. præcisus “abridged, cut off,” p.p. of præcidere “to cut off, shorten,” from præ- “in front,” → pre-,

• cædere “to cut down, chop, beat, hew, slay.”

Etymology (PE): Parsun literally “cut around” (compare with Skt. pariccheda “precise, accurate definition, exact discrimination,” from pari- + cheda “cut, cutting off,” from chid- “to cut, split”), from par-, variant of
pirâ- “around, about,” → peri-, + sun “to cut;” cf. Kurd. Sorani su, sun “to sharpen, whet;” Kurd. Kurmanji (prefixed ha-, contraction of *ham-) hasun “to sharpen, whet;” Mod.Pers. sân “whetstone,” variants fasân, afsân, awsân; Av. si-, sā- “to cut;” cf. Skt. śā- “to sharpen, whet” (see also → concrete).