喜樂美語

核心畫面

Picture standing somewhere where something could reach out and hurt you — a cliff edge, a fire, a threat nearby. Danger is that possibility hanging in the air: the harm hasn't happened, but the door to it is open.

可以想成：你站在一個地方，有某種東西可能會伸手傷到你——懸崖邊、火、或近處的威脅。danger 就是那份懸在空中的可…更多收起可以想成：你站在一個地方，有某種東西可能會伸手傷到你——懸崖邊、火、或近處的威脅。danger 就是那份懸在空中的可能性：傷害還沒發生，但通往它的門是開著的。

From the word’s history

From Old French dangier 'power of a lord, power to harm,' from Latin dominus 'master.' Its first English sense was a lord's power over you; being in someone's danger meant being within reach of a power that could hurt you — which is exactly the modern feel: exposure to harm.

來自古法語 dangier「領主的權力、能傷害你的力量」，源頭是拉丁文 dominus「主人」。它最早在英語裡指「落在某人的掌控之下」——就在他能傷到你的範圍內。這正好接上今天的感覺：暴露在可能受害的處境裡。

etymonline.com/word/danger

Three branches

受傷害的可能

這一家就是核心本身：可能受到傷害的處境。從最實在的身體危險，延伸到任何不好的結果，再到性命交關的極端，都是同一份「壞事可能發生」的懸念。

risk of harm · noun · A2

The chance that someone or something may be hurt, harmed, or killed.

危險

危險的來源

前一家講的是「處境」，這一家是「東西」：把那份可能性具體化成造成它的人或物。危險不再是抽象的機會，而是眼前那個會傷到你的來源。

hazard, a dangerous thing · noun · A2

A thing or person that may hurt, harm, or kill you.

危險的事物

幾乎不可能（否定用法）

同一個字反過來用：當那份可能性等於零時，用 no danger of… 來說「這種事不會發生」。把「有機會受害」整個否定掉，就成了「放心，不可能」。

no danger · noun · A2

Used to say that something will not happen or is very unlikely.

不可能發生

原始詞典資料11 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

dangernoun/ˈdeɪn.d͡ʒə/

  • 1

    Exposure to likely harm; risk of death or serious injury.

    • There's plenty of danger in the desert.
    • Danger is a good teacher, and makes apt scholars.
  • 2

    An instance or cause of likely serious harm.

    • 1st September 1884, William Gladstone, Second Midlothian Speech Two territorial questions […] unsettled […] each of which was a positive danger to the peace of Europe.
  • 3

    obsoleteMischief.

    • We put a Sting in him, / That at his will he may doe danger with.
  • 4

    rail-transportrailwaystransportThe stop indication of a signal (usually in the phrase "at danger").

    • The north signal was at danger because of the rockslide.
  • 5

    obsoleteAbility to harm; someone's dominion or power to harm or penalise. See in one's danger, below.

    • You stand within his danger, do you not?
    • Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in danger of this statute.
  • 6

    obsoleteLiability.

    • Thou shalt not kyll. Whosoever shall kyll, shalbe in daunger of iudgement.
  • 7

    obsoleteDifficulty; sparingness; hesitation.

    • They of Coloyne made grete daunger to lete passe the oost thrughe the Cite at brydge.
    • I made daunger of it a while at first, but afterward beyng persuaded by them..I promised to do as they would haue me.
  • 8

    derogatoryA contemptible person, especially one seen as perverted or mentally ill.

    • Pineapple and pizza. ONLY JOKING YOU FUCKING DANGER.
    • Why did the chicken cross the road? "To try and get away from you, you absolute danger. I've heard all about you posh boy Etonians and farmyard animals"

dangerverb/ˈdeɪn.d͡ʒə/

  • 1

    obsoleteTo claim liability.

  • 2

    obsoleteTo imperil; to endanger.

    • The sides o'th' world may danger. Much is breeding
  • 3

    obsoleteTo run the risk.

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。