prĕcārĭus, a, um, adj. [precor], obtained by begging, entreaty, or prayer (opp. debitus and pro imperio; not freq. till the Aug. per.; perh. used by Cic. only adverbially; v. infra).
I Lit.: non orare solum precariam opem, sed pro debitā petere, obtained by entreaty , from mere favor , Liv. 3, 47, 2; cf.: tribunicia potestas, precarium, non justum auxilium ferens, id. 8, 35: vita, Tac. H. 4, 76: precariam animam inter infensos trahere, id. A. 1, 42: imperium (quasi precibus concessum, ac propterea, quandocumque lubeat, rursus adimendum, Orell.), id. H. 1, 52. —Hence, as subst.: prĕcārĭum , ii, n., any thing granted or lent upon request and at the will of the grantor : precarium est, quod precibus petenti utendum conceditur tam diu, quamdiu is qui concessit patitur: quod genus liberalitatis ex jure gentium descendit, et distat a donatione eo, quod qui donat sic dat, ne recipiat: qui precario concedit sic dat, quasi tunc recepturus, cum sibi libuerit precarium solvere, Dig. 43, 26, 1.—
II Transf., depending on the will of another, doubtful , uncertain , transient , precarious : forma, Ov. M. 9, 76: sapiens corpus suum, seque ipsum inter precaria numerat, precarious , uncertain , transitory things , Sen. Tranq. 11, 1: fulgor, passing quickly by , very transient , Symm. Or. ap. Val. 1, 6.— Hence, adv.: prĕcārĭō , by entreaty or request (class.): hoc petere me precario a vobis jussit, Plaut. Am. prol. 24: cum aliquo agere precario, id. Truc. 4, 1, 12: vel vi vel clam vel precario, Ter. Eun. 319: si precario essent rogandi, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 23, § 59: exegit, Suet. Claud. 12: praefuit, on sufferance , Tac. Agr. 16: precario studeo, am obliged , as it were , to beg time for study , Plin. Ep. 7, 30, 4: precario possidere, by sufferance , Paul. Sent. 5, 6, 11: ancillam quis precario rogaverit, Dig. 43, 26, 10.