praecipua

Praecipua is a Latin adjective form meaning principal, foremost, chief, or remarkable. It is the feminine singular form of the adjective praecipuus; masculine and neuter forms are praecipuus and praecipuum, with other declined endings used to agree with gender, number, and case. In Latin, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify, so praecipua appears on feminine nouns such as res (thing), causa (cause), or ratione (reason) when describing something of primary importance.

Etymology and sense: The word derives from prae- “before” and capere “to seize/take,” via the compound praecipere “to take beforehand,” with a figurative extension to mean “taken beforehand” or “foremost.” Over time praecipuus and praecipua came to convey the sense of something chosen ahead of others, i.e., principal or eminent.

Usage: In classical and ecclesiastical Latin, praecipua describes things regarded as chief or most important. It often appears in phrases such as praecipua res (the principal matter), praecipua causa (the main cause), or praecipua ornamenta (the foremost ornaments). As a descriptive term, it can precede or follow the noun, depending on emphasis and rhythm in the sentence.

Modern usage: In scholarly Latin texts and in translations, praecipua retains its sense of priority or prominence. It is commonly encountered in formal or rhetorical contexts where a distinction of importance is being made, rather than in everyday speech.

See also: Latin language, Latin adjectives, praecipuus.

Note: Latin adjectives like praecipua require agreement with their nouns in gender, number, and case, and their meaning can shift slightly with context from “chief” to “noteworthy” or “remarkable.”