Definition of "hazard"

Men are led on from one stage of life to another in a condition of the utmost hazard.

a. 1729, John Rogers, The Difficulties of Obtaining Salvation

Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up and all is on the hazard.

1599, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

He then launched forth into a panegyric on Allworthy's goodness; into the highest encomiums on his friendship; and concluded by saying, he should never forgive his brother for having put the place which he bore in that friendship to a hazard.

1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

If successful, Edison and Ford—in 1914—would move society away from the ever more expensive and then universally known killing hazards of gasoline cars: […] .

2006, Edwin Black, chapter 1, in Internal Combustion‎

Quite apart from the gruesome road hazards, snow is awful even when you don't have to travel.

2009 December 27, Barbara Ellen, The Guardian

Risk behavior in driving consists in hazard detection, threat appraisal, action selection and implementation. Hazard perception tests often include the task to react quickly to hazards within traffic scenarios.

2014, Neville Stanton et al., Advances in Human Aspects of Transportation: Part III

[T]here's Harry diets himself—for gaming and is now under a hazard Regimen.

1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, III.iii

All the young men go to Spratt’s after their balls. It is de rigueur, my dear; and they play billiards as they used to play macao and hazard in Mr. Fox’s time.

1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 40, in The History of Pendennis. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850

Hazard at the clubs and in fashionable society was conducted with all decorum. It was unfashionable and unpardonable to show any display of feeling at losses or gains.

1901, William Biggs Boulton, The Amusements of Old London, volume I, London: John C. Nimmo, page 139

Anne found the gaming room where mostly older people were seated at card tables. She realized then that, of course, no one was playing hazard. Dice games were technically illegal, and certainly improper. Gambling was illegal, but no one paid attention to that. Most people were playing whist for penny points.

2002, Jo Beverley, Hazard

I will stand the hazard of the die.

c. 1597, William Shakespeare, Richard III, act 5, scene 4

I see animated movies are now managing, by hazard or design, to reflect our contemporary reality more accurately than live-action movies.

2006 May 20, John Patterson, The Guardian

But if you pleaseTo shoot another arrow that self wayWhich you did shoot the first, I do not doubt,As I will watch the aim, or to find bothOr bring your latter hazard back againAnd thankfully rest debtor for the first.

c. 1600, William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

to be consistent, you ought to be a Chriſtian in temper and practice; for you hazard nothing by a course of evangelical obedience

a. 1676, John Clarke, Excuses of the Irreligious

He hazards his neck to the halter.

1642, Thomas Fuller, The Holy State, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Roger Daniel for John Williams, […]

I hazarded the loss of whom I loved.

c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]

They hazard to cut their feet.

1824, Walter Savage Landor, “Lord Chesterfield and Lord Chatham”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume II, London: […] Taylor and Hessey, […]