I.gen. sing. not in use; dat. and acc. sing. only ante-class.; most freq. in plur.), f. precor, a prayer, request, entreaty (class.).
I. In gen.: “nunc te oro per precem,” Plaut. Capt. 2, 1, 47: “nihil est preci loci relictum,” Ter. And. 3, 4, 22: “prece te oro,” Hor. S. 2, 6, 13: “multā prece prosequi aliquem,” id. C. 4, 5, 33: “cum magnā prece ad aliquem scribere,” Cic. Att. 11, 15, 2: “prece et obsecratione humili ac supplici uti,” id. Inv. 1, 16, 22: “nec prece, nec pretio, nec gratiā, nec simultate a rectā viā deduci,” Auct. Her. 3, 3, 4: “omnibus precibus te oro et obtestor, ut, etc.,” Cic. Att. 9, 11, A, § “3: omnibus precibus petere, ut, etc.,” Caes. B. G. 5, 6; Liv. 28, 2: “fatigare aliquem precibus,” id. 1, 11: “precibus flecti,” Verg. A. 2, 689: “moveri,” Ov. H. 7, 3: “vinci,” id. M. 9, 401: “adduci,” Caes. B. G. 1, 16: “ad miseras preces Decurrere,” Hor. C. 3, 29, 59. —
II. In partic.
A. A prayer to a deity: “in prece totus eram,” Ov. F. 6, 251: “eorum preces et vota exaudiens,” Cic. Planc. 41, 97: “vota et preces repudiare,” id. Clu. 70, 201: “tribuunt ei successus petitionum a potestatibus, et a diis etiam precum,” Plin. 29, 4, 19, § 66.—
B. A good wish, friendly greeting: “tuis Kalendis damus alternas accipimusque preces,” exchange good wishes, Ov. F. 1, 176.—
C. A curse, imprecation: “omnibus precibus detestatus Ambiorigem,” Caes. B. G. 6, 30: “misit Thyesteas preces,” Hor. Epod. 5, 86: “hostili caput prece detestari,” Ov. M. 15, 505.—
