danger

Etymology

From Middle English daunger (“power, dominion, peril”), from Anglo-Norman dangier, from Old French dangier, alteration of Old French dongier (due to association with Latin damnum (“damage”)) from Vulgar Latin *dominārium (“authority, power”) from Latin dominus (“lord, master”). Displaced native Old English frēcennes.

noun

1. Exposure to likely harm; peril.
   There's plenty of danger in the desert.
2. An instance or cause of likely harm.
   1st September 1884, William Gladstone, Second Midlothian Speech Two territorial questions […] unsettled […] each of which was a positive danger to the peace of Europe.
3. (obsolete) Mischief.
4. (mainly outside US, rail transport) The stop indication of a signal (usually in the phrase "at danger").
   The north signal was at danger because of the rockslide.
5. (obsolete) Ability to harm; someone's dominion or power to harm or penalise. See in one's danger, below.
6. (obsolete) Liability.
7. (obsolete) Difficulty; sparingness; hesitation.
   They of Coloyne made grete daunger to lete passe the oost thrughe the Cite at brydge. 1500, Melusine
   I made daunger of it a while at first, but afterward beyng persuaded by them..I promised to do as they would haue me. 1570, A. Dalaber, J. Foxe Actes & Monuments
   I shall make danger, sure. 1652, John Fletcher, The Wild-Goose Chase

verb

1. (obsolete) To claim liability.
2. (obsolete) To imperil; to endanger.
3. (obsolete) To run the risk.