precipitate
to cause suddenly or hasten; to throw headlong
Roots
- capit / caput: head
- pre-: before, earlier, or in front
Other words with the capit / caput root
- capital: a main city; wealth; or something chief
- capitulate: to surrender or give in
Precipitate keeps the headlong image: something is driven forward too fast or falls sharply.
One careless rumor precipitated a crisis.
Capital keeps the head root visible. Precipitate adds pre- and caput: headfirst or headlong, then sudden, hasty, or brought about too quickly.