peril
[per-uh l]
- exposure to injury, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger: They faced the peril of falling rocks.
- something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction.
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- to expose to danger; imperil; risk.
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Origin of peril
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin perīculum trial, test, danger, equivalent to perī-, verb base meaning “try” (found in the compound experīrī; see experience) + -culum -cle2
Synonym study
1. See danger.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
uncertaintyinsecurityjeopardyvulnerabilityhazardmenacepitfallendangermentliabilityopennessexposureExamples from the Web for peril
Contemporary Examples
We separate the search for justice from the search for truth at our peril.
Facts have weight and mass, and we ignore them or abuse them at our own peril.
I was lost, fresh back from Vietnam, searching, maybe, for a peril the equivalent of war but aimed in the direction of life.
Now poaching is on the rise and wildlife conservation in peril.
Rick must shepherd his newborn daughter, Judith, through this world of peril.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical HeroRegina Lizik
October 28, 2014
Historical Examples
But nevertheless he could not leave it behind since it was for this he had incurred his present peril.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
"He would do so at the peril of his life, then," said the captain, fiercely.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Her mind is set on taking it down, yet she will not peril her husband.
The Armourer's PrenticesCharlotte M. Yonge
If peril could bring about unity God could bring it about even more effectively.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
The peril about him was growing—growing, and it was a deadly peril!
Within the LawMarvin Dana
peril
- exposure to risk or harm; danger or jeopardy
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Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin perīculum
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for peril
n.
c.1200, from Old French peril "danger, risk" (10c.), from Latin periculum "an attempt, trial, experiment; risk, danger," with instrumentive suffix -culum and element also found in experiri "to try," cognate with Greek peria "trial, attempt, experience," empeiros "experienced," Old Irish aire "vigilance," Gothic ferja "watcher," Old English fær "danger, fear" (see fear (n.)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper