Where does “peril” come from?
Peril comes from Middle English peril, from Old French peril, from Latin periculum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to attempt or risk.
peril (English): A situation of serious and immediate danger;...
Definitions
- A situation of serious and immediate danger;...
Ancestry of “peril”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | peril | Danger, risk, peril; something that is... |
| 2 | Old French | peril | peril; hazard; danger |
| 3 | Vulgar Latin | periclu(m) | — |
| 4 | Latin | perīculum | trial, experiment, attempt, proof, essay |