source: • mine2 edward elric fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood alphonse elric Van Hohenheim Trisha Elric fma:b nezumied •

1. (of an object, substance, or resource) of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly:

〈物･時間･資源などが〉貴重な, 大切な, むだにできない; 〈宝石･貴金属などが〉高価な, 希少な

e.g. precious works of art

e.g. my time is precious.

greatly loved or treasured by someone:

〈記憶･所持品などが〉 «…にとって» かけがえのない, 大事な «to»

e.g. look after my daughter—she's very precious to me.

attributive informal used for emphasis, often in an ironic context:

｟くだけた話｠ 〖名詞の前で〗(相手の)大事な (!相手へのいらだちを暗示)

e.g. a precious lot you know about dogs!

2. derogatory affectedly concerned with elegant or refined behavior, language, or manners:

比較なし ｟かたく･非難して｠ 〈文体などが〉凝った; 〈行為などが〉不自然な, ぎこちない, 気取った.

e.g. his exaggerated, precious manner.

used as a term of address for a beloved person:

〖呼びかけで〗いとしい［かわいい］人［動物］

e.g. don't be frightened, my precious.

extremely little or few (used for emphasis):

e.g. police still know precious little about the dead man

e.g. you'll find precious few attractions open outside of the tourist season.

preciously |ˈpreSHəslē| adverb

preciousness |ˈpreSHəsnəs| noun

Middle English: from Old French precios, from Latin pretiosus ‘of great value’, from pretium ‘price’.