precarium

noun

pre·​car·​i·​um

-rēəm

plural precaria

-rēə

1

Roman, civil, & Scots law

a

: something granted or lent to be returned or redelivered at the will of the grantor

b

: a contract making a loan or grant upon such terms or the tenure by which it is held : a tenancy at will

2

medieval European feudal law : any of various estates or tenures that grew out of the original precarium characterized by more or less uncertainty or limitation of the duration and arduousness of the conditions of tenure compare benefice

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from neuter of precarius

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!