v. Forms: 6 en-, indaunger, 7–8 indanger, 6– endanger. [f. EN-1 + DANGER sb.]
† 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, trans. 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. Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., xiii. (1580), 98. We were fashioned of earth, but not endaungered to turne againe into yearth.
1577. trans. 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. App. 1. p. xlix. To live in this miserable estate … would endanger me of losing quite my senses.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 977. 260. It endangereth the Childe to become Lunaticke.
1658. Whole Duty Man, vi. § 13. Where-ever this sin hath possession, it endangers men to fall into any other.
1737. Winston, 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, Chiron., 102. To fling the Hand up and downe to endanger the offending of those that are nigh.
1663. S. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr., xxxvii. (1668), 493. The very puff of a confident mans breath doth indanger to make me reel.
a. 1716. 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.
1611. Chapman, Iliad, VIII. 16/105. Indanger 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 Miniature, 31. Let thought be fetter’d, sin not with thy breath, 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. Shaks., 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 river with his violent streame should indanger the city of Babylon.
1691–8. J. Norris, Pract. Disc. (1707), IV. 322. They would avoid a world that indangers their Innocency.
Hence Endangered ppl. a.
1597. Daniel, Civ. Wares, IV. xlix. (1609), 99. Had he not speedy succour lent To his indangered father.
1692. South, Serm. (1697), I. 85. Ep. Ded. Their drift [of these Discourses] is to carry the most Endangered, and Endangering Truth, above the Safest, when sinfull, Interest.
1846. Grote, Greece, I. I. viii. 235. Protectors of the endangered mariner.
