endanger
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have endangeredperfect
-
has endangeredperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been endangeringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
endangerssingular 3rd person
-
are endangeringprogressive
-
is endangeringprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been endangeringperfect progressive
-
am endangeringprogressive 1st person singular
-
endangeringparticiple
Past
-
had endangeredperfect
-
was endangeringprogressive singular
-
had been endangeringperfect progressive
-
were endangeringprogressive plural
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endangeredsimple
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endangeredparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of endanger
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at en- 1, danger
Explanation
To endanger someone is to put them in a dangerous position, or to threaten their safety. It would endanger your little brother if you encouraged him to jump off the garage roof into a pile of leaves. Texting while you drive is a good way to endanger yourself, as well as your passengers and anyone else nearby. Scientists warn that climate change will slowly begin to endanger many plant and animal species on Earth, possibly including humans. This 15th century word combines the prefix en-, "make or put in" with danger, from the Old French dangier, "power to harm."
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
