Dangerous

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdeɪndʒəɹəs/

Origin

From Middle English dangerous ("difficult, severe, domineering, arrogant, fraught with danger"), daungerous, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French dangereus ("threatening, difficult"), from dangier. Equivalent to danger + -ous.

Full definition of dangerous

Adjective

1. Full of danger.
   Railway crossings without gates are highly dangerous.
• 1910, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price Chapter 1, “… it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
2. Causing danger; ready to do harm or injury.
• John MiltonIf they incline to think you dangerous
  To less than gods
3. (colloquial, dated) In a condition of danger, as from illness; threatened with death.Forby. Bartlett.
4. (obsolete) Hard to suit; difficult to please.
• Geoffrey ChaucerMy wages ben full strait, and eke full small;
  My lord to me is hard and dangerous.
5. (obsolete) Reserved; not affable.
• Geoffrey ChaucerOf his speech dangerous

Synonyms

• hazardous
• perilous
• risky
• unsafe

Antonyms

• (full of danger) safe

Related terms

• danger
• dangerously

Anagrams

• nose guard, noseguard