Definition of peril

The word "peril" comes from the Old French peril, meaning "danger" or "risk." This term, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin periculum, which has the same meaning. The Latin word is a compound of per-, meaning "through" or "thoroughly," and iculum, meaning "sowing" or "threatening." The Latin term periculum, then, could be interpreted as "a thorough sowing" or "a thorough planting" of danger or risk. This root meaning evolved over time, as the French word came to be used in a variety of ways, including to refer to potential harm or danger, as well as to describe something that was perilous or hazardous. In English, the term "peril" has been in use since the 14th century, and over the years it has come to be associated with a range of ideas, from physical danger and harm, to moral and spiritual peril. It is sometimes used figuratively to describe the risk or uncertainty associated with a particular situation or decision, as well as in legal contexts to describe a potentially hazardous or dangerous condition. In essence, the word "peril" captures the sense of being placed in a precarious or hazardous situation, whether that danger is immediate and physical, or more abstract and metaphorical. Its origins in the Latin for "a thorough sowing" serve as a tangible reminder of the way that danger and uncertainty can often have deeply rooted and pervasive impacts on our lives.