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Webster 1913 Edition


Threat

Threat

(thrĕt)
,
Noun.
[AS.
þreát
, akin to ā
þreótan
to vex, G. ver
driessen
, OHG. ir
driozan
, Icel.
þrjōta
to fail, want, lack, Goth. us
þriutan
to vex, to trouble, Russ.
trudite
to impose a task, irritate, vex, L.
trudere
to push. Cf.
Abstruse
,
Intrude
,
Obstrude
,
Protrude
.]
The expression of an intention to inflict evil or injury on another; the declaration of an evil, loss, or pain to come; menace; threatening; denunciation.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your
threats
.
Shakespeare

Threat

,
Verb.
T.
&
I.
[OE.
þreten
, AS.
þreátian
. See
Threat
,
Noun.
]
To threaten.
[Obs. or Poetic]
Shak.
Of all his
threating
reck not a mite.
Chaucer.
Our dreaded admiral from far they
threat
.
Dryden.

Webster 1828 Edition


Threat

THREAT

,
Noun.
thret. A menace; denunciation of ill; declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, loss or pain on another.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.

THREAT

,
Verb.
T.
thret. To threaten, which see. Threat is used only in poetry.

Definition 2024


threat

threat

See also: þreat

English

Noun

threat (plural threats)

  1. An expression of intent to injure or punish another.
  2. An indication of potential or imminent danger.
    • 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
      Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
  3. A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.
    • 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:
      Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.
Related terms
Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English threten, from Old English þrēatian (to press, oppress, repress, correct, threaten). Akin to Middle Dutch drōten (to threaten).

Verb

threat (third-person singular simple present threats, present participle threating, simple past and past participle threated)

  1. (transitive) To press; urge; compel.
  2. (transitive, archaic) To threaten.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.vii:
      An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye []
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, V. i. 37:
      O yes, and soundless too; / For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, / And very wisely threat before you sting.
  3. (intransitive) To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.

Anagrams