perilous
Meaning
full of danger or risk
Structure
Usage
the climbers faced a perilous journey across the icy ridge.
the country's economy is in a perilous state.
it was a perilous decision, but one she felt she had to make.
Etymology
The word perilous has a direct lineage from Latin, entering English via Anglo-Norman and Old French. Its core, 'peril', originates from the Latin noun periculum, meaning 'danger, risk, or an attempt', which itself may derive from a root meaning 'to try' or 'to risk'. The suffix '-ous', from Latin -osus, is a prolific adjective-forming element denoting possession or abundance. Therefore, the literal construction 'perilous' logically means 'full of peril', a sense that has remained stable from its medieval usage to its modern application describing hazardous situations.
Analysis
peril (from latin periculum, meaning danger, risk, trial); ous (from latin -osus, a suffix forming adjectives meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by').