risk English · revision 3342

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1661|origins=it risco}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /rɪsk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|risque|t=hazard, danger]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[it|risco]], also rischio,^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(SOED 2002) from [[m|it|riscare|t=to run into danger]], also rischiare,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(COED 2004) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Klein derives it from Vulgar Latin *risicāre and suggests Greek [[m|grc|ῥίζα|tr=rhíza|t=root]] in the sense “cliff”.^(Klein 1966) Spanish riesgo and German Risiko are Italian loans.^(Etymonline) The verb is from the noun, or from French risquer.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Hazard, danger: 1661, as risque,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) or the 1660s.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates the noun to 1655.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''To run a risk'' is from 1665^(OED 1989) or the 1660s.^(Etymonline) The commercial sense, the hazard of loss of a ship or goods, is by 1719, hence the chance taken in a business venture.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The anglicized spelling ''risk'' is by 1728^(Etymonline) or 1741,^(Barnhart 1988) but ''risque'' was used alongside it until the late 1800s.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to expose to the chance of injury or loss”, is from before 1687,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and “to venture upon” from 1705.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''At risk'' is from 1901,^(OED 1989) ''risk factor'' from 1906, ''risk aversion'' from 1942 and ''risk management'' from 1963.^(Etymonline) A person who is a danger or liability is ''a risk'' from 1948.^(OED 1989) ''Risky'' is from 1826–27, in Fenimore Cooper.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1661 – hazard, danger.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1665 – ''run a risk''.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1687 – verb, to endanger.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1705 – to venture upon.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1719 – commercial risk.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1728 – the spelling ''risk''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1826 – ''risky''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1901 – ''at risk''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1948 – a person as a risk.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The possibility of loss, injury or harm; [[danger]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A person or thing that is a source of danger, or a danger to others.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The chance of loss covered by [[insurance]], or the person or thing insured.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To expose to the chance of loss or damage.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To take the chance of: ''to risk a fall''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[risker]]

+ * [[riskless]]

+ * [[risktaker]]

+ * [[high-risk]]

+ * [[unrisked]]

+ * [[assigned risk]]

+ * [[credit risk]]

+ * [[risk factor]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[risky]]

+ * [[risqué]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}