(adj.adv.) : prĕcārĭus, a, um, adj.id.
* 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).
* 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.
* 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. 2, 3, 28: 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.

s. TLL