jeopardy
noun
- exposure to or imminence of loss or injury : danger
- law : the danger that an accused person is subjected to when on trial for a criminal offense
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɛpədi/ / /ˈd͡ʒɛpɚdi/ / /ˈd͡ʒepədi/
noun
Etymology: From Middle English jupartie, jeupartie (“even chance”), from Anglo-Norman giu parti and Middle French jeu parti (“a divided game, i.e. an even game, an even chance”), from Medieval Latin iocus partītus (“an even chance, an alternative”), from Latin iocus (“jest, play, game”) + partītus, perfect passive participle of partiō (“divide”); see joke and party.
- Danger of failure, harm, or loss.
“The poor condition of the vehicle put its occupants in constant jeopardy.”
“Thus chaunce hath (by exchaunge) the flie ſo trapt, / That ſodainly he loſt his libertee: / The more he wrange, the faſter was he wrapt [in the spider's web] / And all to thencreaſe of his ieoberdee, […]”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English jupartie, jeupartie (“even chance”), from Anglo-Norman giu parti and Middle French jeu parti (“a divided game, i.e. an even game, an even chance”), from Medieval Latin iocus partītus (“an even chance, an alternative”), from Latin iocus (“jest, play, game”) + partītus, perfect passive participle of partiō (“divide”); see joke and party.
- To jeopardize; to endanger.