Category:Threaten

Threat"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Threatened; p. pr. & vb. n. Threatening.] Etym: [oe. . See threat, v. t.]

1. To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; To alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil Or disagreeable; to warn. Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man In this name. Acts iv. 17.

2. To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as Approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional Infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death. Milton. The skies look grimly and threaten present blusters. Shak.

Syn. -- to menace. -- threaten, menace. Threaten is anglo-saxon, and menace is latin. As often happens, the former is the more familiar term; the latter is More employed in formal style. We are threatened with a drought; the Country is menaced with war. By turns put on the suppliant and the lord: threatened this moment, And the next implored. Prior. Of the sharp ax regardless, that o'er his devoted head hangs Menacing. Somerville.

Threaten Threat"en, v. i.

Defn: to use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening Appearance. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. Shak.