“risking” is a form of
risk
/ɹɪsk/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms risks risking risked risque
- noun (uncountable) The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event. “There is risk of being brutalized, arrested, imprisoned and tortured, all because I want you to know the truth about this matter.”
- noun (uncountable) The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event.
- noun (uncountable, economics, business and engineering) The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur.
- noun (countable) A possible adverse event or outcome.
- noun (insurance) A type of adverse event covered under an insurance policy.
- noun (countable) A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect). “That man is going to be a big risk once he's out of prison.”
- noun (banking, finance) A borrower (such as a mortgage-holder or person with a credit card). “A good credit rating indicates the customer is a desirable risk.”
- noun (finance) A financial product (typically an investment). “Subprime mortgages are poor risks; especially for a pension scheme.”
- verb (transitive) To incur risk of (an unwanted or negative outcome).
- verb (transitive) To incur risk of harming or jeopardizing.
- verb (transitive) To incur risk as a result of (doing something).
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
danger peril hazard court venture adventure jeopardy endangerment risk of infection risk of exposure put on the line lay on the line gamble chance take chances run a risk take a chance
Etymology
From earlier risque, from Middle French risque, from Old Italian risco (“risk”) (modern Italian rischio) and rischiare (“to run into danger”). Displaced native Old English pleoh (“risk”) and plēon (“to risk”).
Most dictionaries consider the etymology of these Italian terms uncertain, but some suggest they perhaps come from Vulgar Latin *resecum (“that which cuts, rock, crag”) (> Medieval Latin resicu), from Latin resecō (“cut off, loose, curtail”, verb), in the sense of that which is a danger to boating or shipping; or from Ancient Greek ῥιζικόν (rhizikón, “root, radical, hazard”).
A few dictionaries express more certainty. Collins says the Italian risco comes from Ancient Greek ῥίζα (rhíza, “cliff”) due to the hazards of sailing along rocky coasts. The American Heritage says it probably comes from Byzantine Greek ῥιζικό, ριζικό (rhizikó, rizikó, “sustenance obtained by a soldier through his own initiative, fortune”), from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”), from Classical Syriac ܪܘܙܝܩܐ ,ܪܙܩܐ (rezqā, rōzīqā, “daily ration”), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōzīg) (whence Classical Persian روزِی (rōzī)), from Middle Persian [script needed] (rōz, “day”) (whence Classical Persian روز (rōz)), from Old Persian 𐎼𐎢𐎨𐏃 (raučah) (cognate with Sanskrit रोचस् (rocas, “light, lustre”)), from Proto-Iranian *ráwčah, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *ráwčas, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *léwk-os, from *lewk- (“bright; to shine”) + *-os (noun suffix). Karla Mallette derives the word from Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “sustenance, that which God allots”) via Sabir.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Hazard; danger; peril; exposure to loss, injury, or destruction.
- noun Hazard of loss; liabillity to loss in property. To run a risk, to incur hazard; to encounter danger.
- verb To expose to risk, hazard, or peril; to venture; as, to risk goods on board of a ship; to risk one's person in battle; to risk one's fame by a publication.
- verb To incur the risk or danger of; as, to risk a battle.
Etymology [F. risque; cf. It. risco, risico, rischio, Pg. risco, Sp. riesgo, and also Sp. risco a steep rock; all probably fr. L. resceare to cut off; pref. re- re- + secare to cut; -- the word having been probably first used among sailors. See Section.]
Etymology [CF. F. risquer. See Risk, n.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “risk”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details