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per·il

(pĕrəl)

a. Imminent danger: a sign warning of the peril of falling rocks.

b. Exposure to the risk of harm or loss: in peril of losing his savings.

2. Something that endangers or involves risk: couldn't avoid the perils of the desert.

tr.v. per·iled, per·il·ing, per·ils also per·illed or per·il·ling
Archaic

To expose to danger or the chance of injury; imperil.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin perīculum; see per-³ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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