m. I. of rapid motion caused by a push (metaph.), precipitation, verba praecipitationis, Ps. Lamb. 51, 6. Hié weorðaþ oft áscrencte on ðæm scyfe ðære styringe hira módes ðæt hí hira selfra ne ágon ðý máre geweald ðe óðerra monna motionis impulsu praecipites quaedam velut alienati peragunt, Past. 33, l; Swt. 215, 12, 17. I a. glossing preceps:--Seó ús on scefe gedwelde teáh mid wegleásum quae nos in preceps errore traxit devio, Hymn. Surt. 24, 11. II. furtherance of a project, the pushing of a matter, prompting, instigation in a good sense, cf. scúfan, V:--Ǽlc burhgemet beó be his dihte ge scife swíðe rihte, L. I. P. 7; Th. ii. 312, 21. III. prompting, instigation in a bad sense, cf. scúfan, VI:--Se ðe þurh deófles scyfe on synna befealle, L. C. E. 23; Th. i. 374, 9. Befeallen þurh deófles scyfe on heálíce misdǽde, Wulfst. 103, 21.