précise

Précise is the feminine form of the French adjective precis, meaning exact, accurate, or clearly defined. It is used to describe a feminine noun: une description précise, une mesure précise, une articulation précise. The masculine form is précis, and the corresponding adverb is précisément.

In addition to its adjectival sense, préc is also encountered as a noun in the masculine form précis. A précis is a concise summary or abstract of a longer work, such as a book or article (for example, “un précis de philosophie”). The plural is précis.

Usage and nuance: précises are often used in technical, scientific, legal, or formal contexts to emphasize clarity and specificity. They convey a sense of detail that is careful, exact, and free from ambiguity. The term is often contrasted with vagu, approximatif, or imprecis to highlight precision.

Etymology and related forms: préc ise derives from the Latin prae- “before” or “in front” combined with cisus/caedere meaning “cut,” reflecting the sense of something that has been cut to exact measure or defined boundaries. In French, the root also yields the noun précision (the quality of being precise) and the adverb précisément.

See also: précision, précis, précisionnelle, précisionnement.