periculum

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [pɛˈriː.kʊ.ɫũː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [peˈriː.ku.lum]^[1]

Forms

perīculum n (genitive perīculī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from an unattested verb ⟨*perior⟩ “to try”, seen in experior and perītus, with the suffix -culum.^[2][3] Wiktionary derives it from a Proto-Italic ⟨*per-ei-klom⟩, from an ⟨i⟩-present of Proto-Indo-European *perh₃- (“to go through, attempt”), and the OLD compares Ancient Greek πεῖρα (peîra, “trial”).^[1][2] The contracted ⟨perīclum⟩ is regular in the comic poets and frequent in later poetry.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of a trial and of danger.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant a test, trial, proof, usually perīculum facere “to make trial of”, as in Plautus and Cicero.^[2][6] From Plautus it meant liability to harm, danger, and in Cicero the situation of a party in a lawsuit.^[2] From Terence it meant the responsibility for a loss, liability, meō perīculō “at my own risk”.^[2] Döderlein contrasts perīclitārī, to make trial boldly despite the danger, with tentāre, to test from a wish to know.^[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant danger, trial, peril, attempt, experiment.^[8] Medieval Latin used perīculum animae for damnation, and perīculum gradūs for loss of rank.^[9] It survives in French péril, Spanish peligro and Portuguese perigo, and Old French peril gave English peril about 1200.^[1][10]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a trial and of danger.^[2][5]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of liability.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a party at law.^[2][5]
• c. 1200 – English peril is recorded.^[10]

Meanings

Noun

1. A test, trial, proof, perīculum facere, to make trial.^[2]
2. Danger, peril.^[2]
3. The situation of a party in a lawsuit.^[2]
4. Liability, risk, meō perīculō, at my own risk.^[2]
5. (Medieval Latin) perīculum animae, damnation.^[9]

Word family

• perīclitor
• perīculor
• perīculōsus

Related words

• perīclitābundus
• perīclitātiō
• perīculōsē
• experior
• perītus
• English peril
• English perilous

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
9. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com