leaped headlong from the roof

    praeceps cipitis, abl. cipitī, adj.    [prae+ caput], headforemost, headlong: praecipitem (me) in pistrinum dabit, T.: ut Sopatrum praecipitem deiciant: praeceps ad terram datus, dashed to the ground, L.: Desilit, O.: se praecipitem tecto dedit, leaped headlong from the roof, H.—As subst n.: in praeceps deferri, headlong, L.— Headforemost, headlong, in haste, suddenly: ab inimicis circumventus praeceps agor, S.: ab equo praeceps decidit, O.: (apes) praecipites Cadunt, V.: praecipites fugae sese mandabant, Cs.— Downhill, steep, precipitous, abrupt, perpendicular: in declivi ac praecipiti loco, Cs.: saxa, L.: fossae, V.: iter, O.; cf. iter ad malum praeceps ac lubricum.—As subst n., a steep place, precipice: turrim in praecipiti stantem, V.: immane, Iu.— Sinking, declining, falling: sol Praecipitem lavit aequore currum, V.: in occasum sol, L.: senectus, Cu.— Swift, rapid, rushing, violent: Anio, H.: Boreas, O.: nox, fleeting, O.: remedium, Cu.—Fig., headlong, hasty, rash, precipitate: agunt eum praecipitem poenae civium, pursue fiercely: praecipitem amicum ferri sinere, rush into the abyss: Agricola in ipsam gloriam praeceps agebatur, i. e. was hurried to ruinous heights of glory, Ta.— Rash, hasty, inconsiderate: quis potest esse tam praeceps?: cupiditas dominandi.— Inclined, prone, hasty: naturā ad explendam cupidinem, S.: praeceps ingenio in iram, L. — Dangerous, critical: in tam praecipiti tempore, O.—As subst n., great danger, extremity, extreme danger, critical circumstances: se et prope rem p. in praeceps dederat, exposed to extreme danger, L.: levare Aegrum ex praecipiti, H.: Omne in praecipiti vitium stetit, i. e. at its extreme, Iu.