The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Precipitate \Pre*cip"i*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Precipitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Precipitating.]
   1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or
      height.
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            She and her horse had been precipitated to the
            pebbled region of the river.          --W. Irving.
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   2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause
      to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as,
      precipitate a journey, or a conflict.
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            Back to his sight precipitates her steps. --Glover.
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            If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs,
            and prove dangerous.                  --Bacon.
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   3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in
      the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates camphor
      when in solution with alcohol.
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            The light vapor of the preceding evening had been
            precipitated by the cold.             --W. Irving.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

precipitating
    adj 1: bringing on suddenly or abruptly; "the completion of the
           railroad was the precipitating cause in the extinction of
           waterborne commerce"