periculum

Periculum is a Latin noun meaning danger, risk, or peril. It is a neuter noun of the second declension, with the usual endings: singular periculum, periculī, periculō, periculum, periculō; plural pericula, periculōrum, periculīs, pericula, periculīs. In Classical Latin it designates threats to safety, life, property, or social standing, and it occurs in literary, rhetorical, and legal contexts.

Etymology and cognates: Periculum is the source of the English word peril, via Old French peril. Cognates appear in other Romance languages, such as Italian pericolo and French péril. The exact historical origin of the term is debated, but it is treated as a native Latin noun that yielded corresponding Romance forms and the English derivative peril.

Usage and phrases: In Latin, periculum appears in ordinary descriptions of danger as well as in moral, political, and military discourse. A well-known legal expression is periculum in mora, meaning “danger in delay,” used to justify prompt action in civil and criminal procedure in various legal traditions. The term can also denote nonphysical dangers, such as moral or existential risks, depending on context.

Modern usage: Today, periculum is mainly of historical, linguistic, or scholarly interest. It is encountered in discussions of Latin vocabulary, law, or classical literature and is typically glossed in English as “danger” or “risk.” See also peril and related Romance-language derivatives.