Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A situation of serious and immediate danger;...

Ancestry of “peril”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishperilDanger, risk, peril; something that is...
2Old Frenchperilperil; hazard; danger
3Vulgar Latinpericlu(m)—
4Latinperīculum—

Words derived from “peril”

  • imperil
  • imperiled
  • imperilment
  • multiperil
  • unimperiled
  • perilsome
  • perilless
Every word from Latin perīculum →