imperilment

Imperilment is a noun that denotes the state of being in danger or the act of putting something or someone at risk. In modern English, imperilment is rare and often replaced by peril, danger, endangerment, or risk. The term tends to appear in more formal, archaic, or literary contexts rather than everyday speech.

Etymology and formation: Imperilment derives from the verb imperil, formed with the prefix im- added to peril. Peril itself comes from Old French perel/peil and ultimately from Latin periculum. The noun imperilment follows standard English patterns for turning verbs into abstract nouns with -ment.

Usage and contexts: Imperilment can be found in historical, legal, or high-register writing, where the emphasis is on a condition of being at risk or the act that creates risk. Examples, though somewhat contrived in contemporary prose, include phrases like “the imperilment of the expedition’s crew after the storm” or “the imperilment of the species’ survival prompted conservation action.” In everyday language, speakers would typically say “endangerment,” “risk to,” or “danger to.”

Nuance and alternatives: Peril refers to danger itself, while imperilment emphasizes the state of being endangered or the process of causing risk. Because imperilment is uncommon, writers often choose more direct terms such as endangerment or risk depending on the specificity of the context. In many modern sources, imperilment is treated as archaic or stylistically marked.

See also: imperil, peril, endangerment, risk, danger, jeopardy.