I. ˈpärləs, ˈpȧl- adjective
Etymology: Middle English parlous, perlous, alteration of perilous
1.
a. : characterized by uncertainty : fraught with danger or risk : attended with peril : critical , dangerous , hazardous
the present parlous state of international relations — Denis Plimmer
a parlous journey up a ladder — G.E.Fussell
parlous times
b. : involving risk : awkward to deal with
a parlous bird to hit — H.C.Merivale
2. obsolete : shrewd or cunning usually in a dangerous way
• par·lous·ly adverb
II. adverb
: to a very great extent : exceedingly , excessively
it was parlous boggy underfoot — Strand Magazine
she is parlous handsome — J.G.Edgar