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Lexicological Remarks
- Dartmouth College Press
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244 [Lexicological Remarks.]1 Danger risk peril. The first word is vague and is applied to all sorts of inconveniences. The last, more precise, is hardly said except about danger to one’s person and when it reaches the life or even worse, for it will be extremely well said of a sick person that his life is in danger and his health in peril. It can also be said that peril is the highest degree of danger. It is dangerous to go to sea, but one is in peril during the storm. With regard to risk, it is a danger to which one voluntarily exposes oneself and with some hope of escaping from it, with the intention of obtaining something that tempts us more than the danger frightens us. It is also said rather improperly, at one’s perils and risks, but the first word in this sense passes only in favor of the second. A phrase in which the word, peril, serves only to go one better over that of risk and passes only in its favor. At peril of life is an improper expression but authorized where the word peril is taken for risk. the word pain applying more to privations assumes a lasting feeling. When ...