An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gefahr

by Friedrich Kluge

Gefahr, f., ‘danger, risk, jeopardy,’ ModHG. only, for MidHG. vâre, OHG. fâra, f., ‘ambush, deceit, hazard, danger’; AS. fœ̂r, f., ‘ambush, unforeseen danger, fright,’ E. fear, OSax. fâr, ‘ambush’; Goth. *fêra, ‘ambush,’ follows from férja, m., ‘waylayer.’ Scand. fâr, n., has a somewhat different meaning, ‘misfortune, distemper.’ Allied to the root fē̆́r, Aryan pē̆́r, which in Lat. periculum, Gr. πεῖρα, ‘trial, cunning, deception,’ furnishes cognate meanings.