definitions
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perilous

[ per-uh-luhs ]
/ ˈpɛr ə ləs /
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adjective

involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous: a perilous voyage across the Atlantic in a small boat.

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RELATED WORDS

severely, sorely, badly, very, intensely, acutely, grievously, desperately, seriously, recklessly, critically, precariously, alarmingly, fiercely, greatly, dangerously, gravely, decidedly, quite, deplorably

Nearby words

peril point, perilabyrinthitis, perilaryngitis, perilla, perilla oil, perilous, perilously, perilune, perilymph, perilymphangitis, perilymphatic

Origin of perilous

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French perillous < Latin perīculōsus. See peril, -ous
SYNONYMS FOR perilous
risky.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perilous ON THESAURUS.COM
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perilously

British Dictionary definitions for perilously

perilous

/ (ˈpɛrɪləs) /

adjective

very hazardous or dangerousa perilous journey
Derived Formsperilously, adverbperilousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for perilously

perilous

adj.

c.1300, from Old French perillos "perilous, dangerous" (Modern French périlleux) "dangerous, hazardous," from Latin periculosus "dangerous, hazardous," from periculum "a danger, attempt, risk" (see peril). Related: Perilously; perilousness.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper