Full of danger or risk; likely to cause harm or injury.
From Old French 'perillous', derived from Latin 'periculum' meaning 'danger' or 'trial'. The word entered English in the 13th century and has retained its sense of serious threat throughout its history.
Medieval knights used this word constantly—'perilous journeys' across unknown lands were the norm! The Latin root 'periculum' is also where we get 'experience' and 'expert', since both come from successfully navigating danger.
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