Imperilling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Endangering the safety or security of individuals or entities through exposure to harmful circumstances or situations
2. Causing peril or risk that threatens the welfare or integrity of people or things in various contexts
3. Exposing someone or something to possible harm, danger, or loss

Etymology: "Imperilling" is the present participle and gerund of "imperil", so the real story is that of its base verb. "Imperil" is formed in English from the prefix "im-" and the noun "peril". The prefix comes from Latin "in-", which here means "into" or "in", and "peril" is an older English word for danger, so the verb literally means to put something into peril. The prefix "im-" is the same "in-" that appears in many English verbs, with the spelling adjusted before a "p" to make it easier to say, as in "imprison" or "impose". Attaching it to "peril" gives a verb that describes placing someone or something in a state of danger, a sense that has stayed almost unchanged since the word was formed.

Synonyms: endangering, jeopardizing, threatening

Antonyms: protecting, safeguarding