perilous

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English perilous, from Old French perilleus, equivalent to peril +‎ -ous, from the noun peril, or from Latin perīculōsus. Doublet of periculous.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɛɹ.ɪ.ləs/, /pɛɹ.l̩.əs/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

perilous (comparative more perilous, superlative most perilous)

  1. Dangerous, full of peril.
    • 1886 October – 1887 January, H Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
      Three miles or more to our starboard is a low dim line. It is the Eastern shore of Central Africa. We are running to the southward, before the North East Monsoon, between the mainland and the reef that for hundreds of miles fringes this perilous coast.

Derived terms

Translations

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old French perilleus, from Latin perīculōsus; equivalent to peril +‎ -ous.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɛr(i)luːs/, /ˈpar(i)luːs/

Adjective

perilous (plural and weak singular perilouse, superlative perilousest)

  1. Full of danger or peril; dangerous, harmful, periculous:
    1. Fatal, mortal; potentially resulting in death.
    2. Scary, frightening; inducing horror and psychological damage.
    3. (Late Middle English) Religiously harmful or hurtful
    4. (Late Middle English) Unfortunate; experiencing bad luck.

Descendants

  • English: perilous, parlous
  • Scots: perilous (obsolete)

References

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