Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RISK, n. [Fr. risque; Arm. risql; Sp. riesgo; Port. risco; It. rischio, risk, danger, peril; Fr. risquer, Arm. risqla, Sp. arriesgar, Port. arriscar, to risk. The sense is a pushing forward, a rushing, as in rash. Qu. Dun. dristig, bold, rash; drister, to dare; Sw. drista, to trust, to be bold, hardy or rash. In Portuguese, risco signifies not only hazard, but a stroke, a dash, and with painters, delineation; riscar signifies to dash or strike out with a pen, to erase. The primary sense then is to throw or dash, or to rush, to drive forward. See Peril, Rash and Rush.]

1. Hazard; danger; peril; exposure to harm. He, at the risk of his life, saved a drowning man.
2. In commerce, the hazard of loss, either of ship, goods or other property. Hence, risk signifies also the degree of hazard or danger; for the premiums of insurance are calculated upon the risk. The underwriters now take risks at a low premium. To run a risk, is to incur hazard; to encounter danger.