I.of great value, valuable, precious.
I. Lit.: “equus,” Cic. Off. 3, 23, 89: “odores,” Col. 3, 8, 4: “subiitque argentea proles Auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere,” Ov. M. 1, 115: “ingenium quondam fuerat pretiosius auro,” id. Am. 3, 8, 3: “res pretiosissimae (opp. vilissimae),” Cic. Fin. 2, 28, 91; Plin. 11, 37, 52, § 139: “pretiosissimum humani animi opus,” id. 7, 29, 30, § 108: “nec tamen haec loca sunt ullo pretiosa metallo,” rich in, Ov. P. 3, 8, 5.—
II. Transf.
A. Of great cost, costly, dear, expensive: “operaria,” Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 41: “qui sordido vehiculo erubescit, pretioso gloriabitur,” Sen. Ep. 87, 4: “Thais,” Prop. 4 (5), 5, 43. “pretioso pretio emere aliquid,” dear, high, Plaut. Ep. 1, 2, 17: “fames,” which is satisfied at much expense, Mart. 10 96, 9 : “silentia,” dearly bought, id. 5, 69, 7: “Albani veteris pretiosa senectus,” Juv. 13, 214.—
B. That gives a great price, extravagant: pretiosus emptor, Hor. C. 3, 6, 32.— Hence, adv.: prĕtĭōsē , in a costly manner, expensively, richly, splendidly (class.): “vasa pretiose caelata,” Cic. Inv. 2, 40, 116: “pretiose armatus exercitus,” Gell. 5, 5, 5: “pretiosius sepeliri,” Curt. 10, 1, 32.
