perilous C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈpɛrələs/ UK /ˈpɛrələs/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj full of danger or risk The climbers faced a perilous descent down the ice-covered slope. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · full of danger or risk dangeroushazardousriskyprecarioustreacherousunsafechancy ↔ Opposites safesecureharmless Word family Derived forms perilouslyperilousness Related forms perilimperil Etymology AI details From Old French perillos, from Latin periculosus ('dangerous'), from periculum ('danger, trial'). periculosus Latin periculum Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # perilous **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈpɛrələs/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈpɛrələs/ ## Meanings 1. full of danger or risk ## Examples - The climbers faced a perilous descent down the ice-covered slope. ## Synonyms - dangerous - hazardous - risky - precarious - treacherous - unsafe - chancy ## Antonyms - safe - secure - harmless ## Derived Forms - perilously - perilousness ## Related Forms - peril - imperil ## Roots and Affixes - Root: periculosus - Root: periculum ## Etymology From Old French perillos, from Latin periculosus ('dangerous'), from periculum ('danger, trial'). ## AI Etymology Perilous comes from Old French perillos, from Latin periculosus ('dangerous'), from periculum ('danger, trial'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "full of danger or risk", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin periculosus and Latin periculum. Derivative forms include perilously, perilousness; related words include peril, imperil. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown