Emperil

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

To place in a state of danger or risk | To expose someone or something to potential harm or peril | To make something vulnerable to threats or hazards
To put someone or something at risk of harm or danger
To expose an individual or entity to significant threats or risks

Etymology: The verb in question traces back to the Old French word "emparer," which meant "to seize" or "to take possession of." This itself came from the Latin "imperare," meaning "to command" or "to order," derived from "imperium," signifying "command" or "power." The transformation from commanding authority to the idea of placing in danger likely reflects the precariousness of holding power or the risks involved in seizing control. Entering English around the late Middle Ages, the term initially bore a sense close to "to endanger" or "to put in peril," capturing the idea of exposing someone or something to harm or risk. The prefix "em-" (a variant of "en-") means "to put into or onto," combined with an element related to "peril," which comes from Old French "peril," rooted in Latin "periculum," meaning "danger." Thus, the verb essentially means "to put into danger." Though not as commonly used today, this verb preserved the vivid sense of actively causing jeopardy, a nuance that distinguishes it from more neutral terms like "risk" or "threaten." Its formation reflects a typical pattern in English whereby prefixes are attached to nouns to create verbs indicating the act of placing someone or something in the state denoted by the noun—in this case, peril. The word’s journey from commanding authority to embodying danger is not direct but rather a convergence of Latin roots and Old French influences that merged "imperium" and "peril" concepts. This blending showcases how English has sometimes adapted foreign words, intertwining meanings and forms to fill expressive needs in the language.

Synonyms: endanger, threaten, jeopardize, risk, put at risk

Antonyms: protect, safeguard, secure, shield, preserve