In a way that involves risk of harm or damage, or to an extreme degree that suggests potential consequences.
From Old French 'dangier' meaning 'power to harm,' ultimately from Latin 'dominium' (lordship). The word originally implied the arbitrary power of a lord to harm subjects, evolving to mean any situation involving potential harm.
The adverb form intensifies the sense of risk, often used to describe situations that are thrilling precisely because they're hazardous. In modern usage, it can also mean 'extremely' in contexts like 'dangerously close' or 'dangerously delicious,' showing how risk language amplifies intensity.
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