Dan"ger (?), n. [OE. danger, daunger, power, arrogance, refusal, difficulty, fr. OF. dagier, dongier (with same meaning), F. danger danger, fr. an assumed LL. dominiarium power, authority, from L. dominium power, property. See Dungeon, Domain, Dame.]
1.
Authority; jurisdiction; control.
[Obs.]
In dangerhad he . . . the young girls.
Chaucer.
2.
Power to harm; subjection or liability to penalty.
[Obs.] See
In one's danger, below.
You stand within his danger, do you not?
Shak.
Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in dangerof this statute.
Robynson (More's Utopia).
3.
Exposure to injury, loss, pain, or other evil; peril; risk; insecurity.
4.
Difficulty; sparingness.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
5.
Coyness; disdainful behavior.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
In one's danger, in one's power; liable to a penalty to be inflicted by him. [Obs.] This sense is retained in the proverb, "Out of debt out of danger."
Those rich man in whose debt and danger they be not.
Robynson (More's Utopia).
-- To do danger, to cause danger. [Obs.]
Shak.
Syn. -- Peril; hazard; risk; jeopardy. -- Danger, Peril, Hazard, Risk, Jeopardy. Danger is the generic term, and implies some contingent evil in prospect. Peril is instant or impending danger; as, in peril of one's life. Hazard arises from something fortuitous or beyond our control; as, the hazard of the seas. Risk is doubtful or uncertain danger, often incurred voluntarily; as, to risk an engagement. Jeopardy is extreme danger. Danger of a contagious disease; the perils of shipwreck; the hazards of speculation; the risk of daring enterprises; a life brought into jeopardy.
© Webster 1913.
Dan"ger, v. t.
To endanger.
[Obs.]
Shak.
© Webster 1913.