endanger, v.
(ɛnˈdeɪndʒə(r))
Forms: 6 en-, indaunger, 7–8 indanger, 6– endanger.
[f. en-1 + danger n.]
† 1. trans. To subject (a person) to the absolute control of another; to render (an official) liable to dismissal or punishment at the will of a superior. Const. to. Obs. rare.
| 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utop. (Arb.) 60 Another giueth the kynge counsel to endaunger unto his grace the iudges of the Realme. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 489/1 A slaue of Satan, one indangered to the wicked. |
† 2. pass. To incur the liability to punishment by another person; to be liable to arrest or seizure of goods on the part of a creditor. Const.
to (a judge, creditor, etc.).
Obs.| 1477 J. Paston in Paston Lett. No. 790 III. 179 He..is fere endangeryd to dyvers in thys contrey. 1548 Coverdale Erasm. Par. Rom. xiii. 3 Nowe yf thou be lothe to be endaungered to magistrates or lawes. 1579 Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 172/2 For while we are indaungered to God, we can in no wise stand before him. 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. 1805 VIII. 367 Being close hooded..from knowledge of any to whom he is indangered. |
† b. To be liable
to (punishment, evil of any kind.) Also
const. to with
inf. Obs.| 1549 Coverdale Erasm. Par. Jude II. 23 That he should be endaungered to diseases. a 1569 A. Kingsmill Man's Est. xiii. (1580) 98 We were fashioned of earth, but not endaungered to turne againe into yearth. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 571 God accuseth vs and pleadeth vs guiltie of sinne, and indangered to punishment. |
† 3. To put (a person) in peril (of something untoward). Const.
of, oftener
to with
inf. Obs.| 1548 Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraph. John 15 The confessing what he was himself endaungered him to lose his owne estimacion. 1603 W. Watson in Dodd Ch. Hist. Eng. (1841) IV. xlix, To live in this miserable estate..would indanger me of losing quite my senses. 1626 Bacon Sylva §977 It indangereth the Child to become Lunaticke. 1658 Whole Duty Man vi. §13 Where-ever this sin hath possession, it endangers men to fall into any other. 1737 Whiston Josephus' Antiq. ix. iv. §5 That they might not endanger one another to perish, by treading on one another. |
† 4. To cause the danger of (something untoward happening); to render imminent or probable. Sometimes with gerund or inf. (with
to) as
obj.| 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. 117 Grammaticall translations..can neuer indanger any waie to make truants. 1644 Bulwer Chirol. & Chiron. 102 To fling the Hand up and downe to endanger the offending of those that are nigh. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxxvii. (1668) 493 The very puff of a confident mans breath doth indanger to make me reel. a 1716 Bp. O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. 227 Such ill Courses as will endanger his Ruin. 1791 Smeaton Edystone L. (1793) §313 They would have endangered the breaking the glass. 1796 Southey Lett. Spain & Port. (1808) I. 15 So as to endanger setting it on fire. |
† 5. To incur the danger of; to chance, risk.
Obs.| 15.. Quest. Prof. & Pleas. Conc. 30 a I alwaies..endanger your displeasure with my troublesome speeches. c 1611 Chapman Iliad viii. 16 Endanger it the whiles and see. 1691 Ray Creation (1714) 370 But would endanger to be quite destroyed. 1726 Addison Dial. Medals i. 34 Unless they turned back quickly they would endanger being benighted. 1771 Muse in Min. 31 Who dares blaspheme my name, endangers death. |
6. To expose to danger, cause danger to. (The only modern sense.)
| α 1509 Fisher Fun. Serm. C'tess Richmond (1708) 31 Wrapped and endaungered with the myseres of this wretched Worlde. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. v. iv. 133, I hold him but a foole that will endanger His Body, for a Girle that loues him not. 1647 in Nicholas Papers (1886) I. 81 The Citty is..ridden by every party and wilbe so rather then endanger Trade. 1671 Milton Samson 1009 Wedlock-treachery endangering life. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 212 Not so great a wind as to endanger us. 1770 Junius Lett. xxxvii. 181 It is not an act..that can ever endanger the liberties of this country. 1866 Crump Banking ix. 211 The convertibility of the note would be endangered. |
| β 1601 Holland Pliny I. 136 Lest one day or other the riuer with his violent streame should indanger the city of Babylon. 1691–8 Norris Pract. Disc. (1707) IV. 322 They would avoid a World that indangers their Innocency. |