(adj.adv.) : prĕtĭōsus, a, um, adj.pretium
* Of great value, valuable, precious.
* 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.
* Transf.
* 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.
* 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.

s. TLL