peril

plural perils

1. countableuncountableA situation of serious and immediate danger.

   Your life is in peril.

2. countableuncountableSomething that causes, contains, or presents danger.

   the perils of the jungle (animals and insects, weather, etc.)

3. countableuncountablebusinessAn event which causes a loss, or the risk of a specific such event.

present singular third person perils · US participle present periling · UK participle present perilling · US participle past periled · US past periled · UK participle past perilled · UK past perilled

1. transitiveTo cause to be in danger; to imperil; to risk.First known use 16th c.

   "I will have nothing to do with this matter, whatever it is. Do you think I am going to peril my reputation for you?"

   1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter XIV, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC

   2 more examples

   And are we, Mr. President, who stood by our country then, who threw open our coffers, who bared our bosoms, who freely perilled all in that conflict, to be reproached with want of attachment to the Union?

   1830, Robert Hayne, Speech in the United States Senate

   Remember how much she had perilled for a fine house and gorgeous furniture, for carriages and horses, jewels and laces; and do not wonder if she clings with a desperate tenacity to gauds and gew-gaws, in the hour of her despair.

   1862, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Lady Audley's Secret