precarious

a. [ L. precarius obtained by begging or prayer, depending on request or on the will of another, fr. precari to pray, beg. See Pray. ] 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy; liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another; as, precarious privileges. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Held by a doubtful tenure; depending on unknown causes or events; exposed to constant risk; not to be depended on for certainty or stability; uncertain; as, a precarious state of health; precarious fortunes. “Intervals of partial and precarious liberty.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Uncertain; unsettled; unsteady; doubtful; dubious; equivocal. -- Precarious, Uncertain. Precarious in stronger than uncertain. Derived originally from the Latin precari, it first signified “granted to entreaty, ” and, hence, “wholly dependent on the will of another.” Thus it came to express the highest species of uncertainty, and is applied to such things as depend wholly on future casualties. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Pre*ca"ri*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]