I.obtained by begging, entreaty, or prayer (opp. debitus and pro imperio; not freq. till the Aug. per.; perh. used by Cic. only adverbially; v. infra).
I. Lit.: “non orare solum precariam opem, sed pro debitā petere,” obtained by entreaty, from mere favor, Liv. 3, 47, 2; cf.: “tribunicia potestas, precarium, non justum auxilium ferens,” id. 8, 35: “vita,” Tac. H. 4, 76: “precariam animam inter infensos trahere,” id. A. 1, 42: “imperium (quasi precibus concessum, ac propterea, quandocumque lubeat, rursus adimendum, Orell.),” id. H. 1, 52. —Hence, as subst.: prĕcārĭum , ii, n., any thing granted or lent upon request and at the will of the grantor: “precarium est, quod precibus petenti utendum conceditur tam diu, quamdiu is qui concessit patitur: quod genus liberalitatis ex jure gentium descendit, et distat a donatione eo, quod qui donat sic dat, ne recipiat: qui precario concedit sic dat, quasi tunc recepturus, cum sibi libuerit precarium solvere,” Dig. 43, 26, 1.—
II. Transf., depending on the will of another, doubtful, uncertain, transient, precarious: “forma,” Ov. M. 9, 76: “sapiens corpus suum, seque ipsum inter precaria numerat,” precarious, uncertain, transitory things, Sen. Tranq. 11, 1: fulgor, passing quickly by, very transient, Symm. Or. ap. Val. 1, 6.— Hence, adv.: prĕcārĭō , by entreaty or request (class.): “hoc petere me precario a vobis jussit,” Plaut. Am. prol. 24: “cum aliquo agere precario,” id. Truc. 4, 1, 12: “vel vi vel clam vel precario,” Ter. Eun. 2, 3, 28: “si precario essent rogandi,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 23, § 59: “exegit,” Suet. Claud. 12: “praefuit,” on sufferance, Tac. Agr. 16: “precario studeo,” am obliged, as it were, to beg time for study, Plin. Ep. 7, 30, 4: “precario possidere,” by sufferance, Paul. Sent. 5, 6, 11: “ancillam quis precario rogaverit,” Dig. 43, 26, 10.
