parlous
UK: ˈpɑːləs | US: ˈpɑːrləs
adj. full of danger or uncertainty; precarious
adj. (archaic) clever or shrewd in a cunning way
"Parlous" originated in Middle English as a variant of "perilous," derived from Old French "perillous," which traces back to Latin "periculosus" (dangerous). The spelling "parlous" emerged through phonetic simplification, dropping the middle syllable. The archaic sense of "clever" likely arose from the idea of navigating danger skillfully. Over time, the word became rare, surviving mainly in literary or humorous contexts.
The climbers faced a parlous journey across the icy ridge.
In Shakespeare's plays, fools often speak with parlous wit.
The company's finances are in a parlous state after the scandal.
(Archaic) "Thou art a parlous knave," muttered the old merchant.
Modern politics can feel like a parlous balancing act.