danger - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Danger Sign by Finchampstead

From Middle English daunger (“power, dominion, peril”), from Anglo-Norman dangier, from Old French dangier, alteration of Old French dongier (due to association with Latin damnum (“damage”)) from Vulgar Latin *dominārium (“authority, power”) from Latin dominus (“lord, master”).[1] Displaced native Old English frēcennes.

danger (countable and uncountable, plural dangers)

  1. Exposure to likely harm; risk of death or serious injury.
    Synonym: (stronger) peril
    There's plenty of danger in the desert.
    • 1821, William Hazlitt, “Essay IX. The Indian Jugglers.”, in Table-Talk; or, Original Essays, volume I, London: John Warren, […], →OCLC, page 187:
      Danger is a good teacher, and makes apt scholars.
    • 1966, “Cool McCool (theme song)”, Bernie Green (music) (Cool McCool (television series)), performed by Bob McFadden:
      The Owl is flying high, frightening to the eye.
      The Rattler is nearby, Cool is on the fly.
      Danger is his business.
    • 2024, NTSB, Intersection Crash Between Passenger Car and Combination Vehicle, Tishomingo, Oklahoma, March 22, 2022:
      We determined that the car driver’s transportation of multiple teen passengers, limited driving experience, and likely impairment from effects of cannabis at the time of the crash adversely affected her judgment of the danger of entering the intersection in front of the approaching combination vehicle.
    • 2025 November 12, Philip Haigh, “High praise for rail staff's courage and clear thinking”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 50:
      Huntingdon's ferocity makes the reaction of staff all the more brave. To move towards danger when others are fleeing is the definition of bravery in my book. To place yourself in danger to protect others.
  2. An instance or cause of likely serious harm.
    • 1st September 1884, William Gladstone, Second Midlothian Speech
      Two territorial questions […] unsettled […] each of which was a positive danger to the peace of Europe.
  3. (obsolete) Mischief.
  4. (mainly outside US, rail transport) The stop indication of a signal (usually in the phrase "at danger").
    The north signal was at danger because of the rockslide.
  5. (obsolete) Ability to harm; someone's dominion or power to harm or penalise. See in one's danger, below.
  6. (obsolete) Liability.
  7. (obsolete) Difficulty; sparingness; hesitation.
    • 1500, Melusine:
      They of Coloyne made grete daunger to lete passe the oost thrughe the Cite at brydge.
    • 1570, A. Dalaber, J. Foxe Actes & Monuments:
      I made daunger of it a while at first, but afterward beyng persuaded by them..I promised to do as they would haue me.
    • 1652, John Fletcher, The Wild-Goose Chase:
      I shall make danger, sure.
  8. (UK, derogatory) A contemptible person, especially one seen as perverted or mentally ill.
    • 2017 July 28, Gary Ogden, “Ridiculous food combinations that are actually really tasty”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎[1]:
      Pineapple and pizza. ONLY JOKING YOU FUCKING DANGER.
    • 2019 July 31, Oonagh Keating, quoting Stephen Patten, “We asked you to caption a photo of Boris Johnson holding a chicken – our 19 favourites”, in The Poke‎[2]:
      Why did the chicken cross the road?
      "To try and get away from you, you absolute danger. I've heard all about you posh boy Etonians and farmyard animals"

exposure to likely harm

instance or cause of likely harm

stop indication of a railway signal

Translations to be checked

danger (third-person singular simple present dangers, present participle dangering, simple past and past participle dangered) (obsolete)

  1. To claim liability.
  2. To imperil; to endanger.
  3. To run the risk.
  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2026), “danger”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Inherited from Old French dangier, alteration of Old French dongier (due to association with Latin damnum (“damage”)), from Vulgar Latin *domniārium (“authority, power”), from Latin dominus (“lord, master”).

danger m (plural dangers)

  1. danger
  2. jeopardy (danger of loss, harm, or failure)