risky English · revision 15132

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1813}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈrɪs.ki/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[risk]] and [[-y]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Involving risk, dangerous: 1813 in Merriam-Webster, 1825 in Etymonline, 1827 in the OED.^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Riskful, in the same sense, is from 1793, and riskless by 1818.^(Etymonline) A rare sense, venturesome or bold, is from 1826,^(OED 1989) and after French risqué, bordering on the improper, from 1881.^(OED 1989) ''Risky shift'', a move towards bolder decisions in groups, is a term of social psychology from 1964.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1793 – riskful.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1813 – risky.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1881 – risqué, improper.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1964 – risky shift.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Involving risk or danger; [[hazardous]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(dated)'' Slightly improper; [[risqué]].^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[riskiness]]

+ * [[riskily]]

+ * [[unrisky]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[risk]]

+ * [[risqué]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}