Dictionary entry

Perilous

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Per″il‐ous (?), a. [OF. perillous, perilleus, F. périlleux, L. periculosus. See Peril.] [Written also perillous.] 1. Full of, attended with, or involving, peril; dangerous; hazardous; as, a perilous undertaking.

Infamous hills, and sandy, perilous wilds. Milton.

2. Daring; reckless; dangerous. Latimer.

For I am perilous with knife in hand. Chaucer.

— Per″il‐ous‐ly, adv. — Per″il‐ous‐ness, n.