danger Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
    • you are in no danger
    • there was widespread danger of disease
  2. noun a venture undertaken without regard to possible loss or injury
    peril; risk.
    • he saw the rewards but not the risks of crime
    • there was a danger he would do the wrong thing
  3. noun a cause of pain or injury or loss
    • he feared the dangers of traveling by air
  4. noun a dangerous place
    • He moved out of danger

WordNet

Dan"ger noun
Etymology
OE. danger, daunger, power, arrogance, refusal, difficulty, fr. OF. dagier, dongier (with same meaning), F. danger danger, fr. an assumed LL. dominiarium power, authority, from L. dominium power, property. See Dungeon, Domain, Dame.
Definitions
  1. Authority; jurisdiction; control. Obs.
    In dangerhad he . . . the young girls. Chaucer.
  2. Power to harm; subjection or liability to penalty. Obs. See In one's danger, below.
    You stand within his danger, do you not? Shak.
    Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in dangerof this statute. Robynson (More's Utopia).
  3. Exposure to injury, loss, pain, or other evil; peril; risk; insecurity.
  4. Difficulty; sparingness. Obs. Chaucer.
  5. Coyness; disdainful behavior. Obs. Chaucer. Shak. Syn. -- Peril; hazard; risk; jeopardy. -- Danger, Peril, Hazard, Risk, Jeopardy. Danger is the generic term, and implies some contingent evil in prospect. Peril is instant or impending danger; as, in peril of one's life. Hazard arises from something fortuitous or beyond our control; as, the hazard of the seas. Risk is doubtful or uncertain danger, often incurred voluntarily; as, to risk an engagement. Jeopardy is extreme danger. Danger of a contagious disease; the perils of shipwreck; the hazards of speculation; the risk of daring enterprises; a life brought into jeopardy.
Dan"ger transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To endanger. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913