Word: risk Part of Speech: noun 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”). Speculation on earlier roots 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. Cognate with Spanish riesgo, Portuguese risco Pronunciation: /ɹɪsk/ 1. The probability of a negative outcome to a decision or event. Labels: uncountable Example: There is risk of being brutalized, arrested, imprisoned and tortured, all because I want you to know the truth about this matter. Example: What crop(s) to plant, how much area to devote to each crop, and how much risk to take with respect to rainfall during the season are some of the decisions that must be made. 2. The magnitude of possible loss consequent to a decision or event. Labels: uncountable Example: Will they find the prospect of greater risk a cause for concern, rather than a gift from the right? Example: The decision was also unlawful in disregarding the prospect of greater risk of sexual or physical abuse to girls at a co-educational residential school 3. The potential negative effect of an event, determined by multiplying the likelihood of the event occurring with its magnitude should it occur. Labels: uncountable Example: If there is a 25% chance of running over schedule, costing you a $100 out of your own pocket, that might be a risk you are willing to take. But if you have a 5% chance of running overschedule, knowing that there is a $10,000 penalty, you might be less willing to take that risk. 4. A possible adverse event or outcome. Labels: countable Example: the imminent and constant risk of assassination, a risk which has shaken very strong nerves 5. A possible adverse event or outcome. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect). Labels: countable Example: That man is going to be a big risk once he's out of prison. Example: Those stairs are a major risk. 7. A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: A good credit rating indicates the customer is a desirable risk. 8. A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Subprime mortgages are poor risks; especially for a pension scheme. 9. A thing (from the perspective of how likely or unlikely it is to cause an adverse effect). Labels: countable, uncountable