prĕtĭōsus, a, um, adj. [pretium], of great value, valuable, precious.
I Lit.: equus, Cic. Off. 3, 23, 89: odores, Col. 3, 8, 4: subiitque argentea proles Auro deterior, fulvo pretiosior aere, Ov. M. 1, 115: ingenium quondam fuerat pretiosius auro, id. Am. 3, 8, 3: res pretiosissimae (opp. vilissimae), Cic. Fin. 2, 28, 91; Plin. 11, 37, 52, § 139: pretiosissimum humani animi opus, id. 7, 29, 30, § 108: nec tamen haec loca sunt ullo pretiosa metallo, rich in , Ov. P. 3, 8, 5.—
II Transf.
A Of great cost , costly , dear , expensive : operaria, Plaut. Bacch. 1, 1, 41: qui sordido vehiculo erubescit, pretioso gloriabitur, Sen. Ep. 87, 4: Thais, Prop. 4 (5), 5, 43: pretioso pretio emere aliquid, dear , high , Plaut. Ep. 1, 2, 17: fames, which is satisfied at much expense , Mart. 10 96, 9: silentia, dearly bought , id. 5, 69, 7: Albani veteris pretiosa senectus, Juv. 13, 214.—
B That gives a great price , extravagant : pretiosus emptor, Hor. C. 3, 6, 32.— Hence, adv.: prĕtĭōsē , in a costly manner , expensively , richly , splendidly (class.): vasa pretiose caelata, Cic. Inv. 2, 40, 116: pretiose armatus exercitus, Gell. 5, 5, 5: pretiosius sepeliri, Curt. 10, 1, 32.