jeopardy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   danger of loss, harm, or failure; legal risk of conviction

   One careless leak put the whole mission in jeopardy.

From Old French 'jeu parti' ('a divided game, an even or uncertain chance'), from Latin 'iocus' ('game, jest') + 'partiri' ('to divide'); the sense shifted from an even contest to risk of loss.

Topics