n.
Pronunciation: ' per- ə l, ' pe-r ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin periculum ― more at FEAR
Date: 13th century
1 : exposure to the risk of being injured, destroyed, or lost : DANGER <fire put the city in peril >
2 : something that imperils : RISK <lessen the peril s of the streets>