Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Threaten
Threat′en
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Threatened
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Threatening
.] 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
deathMilton.
The skies look grimly
And
And
threaten
present blusters. Shakespeare
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
Regardless, that o’er his devoted head
Hangs
menacing
. Somerville.
Threat′en
,Verb.
I.
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
Though the seas
threaten
, they are merciful. Shakespeare
Webster 1828 Edition
Threaten
THREATEN
,Verb.
T.
1.
To declare the purpose of inflicting punishment, pain or other evil on another, for some sin or offense; to menace. God threatens the finally impenitent with everlasting banishment from his presence.2.
To menace; to terrify or attempt to terrify by menaces; as for extorting money. To send threatening letters is a punishable offense.
3.
To charge or enjoin with menace, or with implied rebuke; or to charge strictly. Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in his name. Acts 4.
4.
To menace by action; to present the appearance of coming evil; as, rolling billows threaten to overwhelm us.5.
To exhibit the appearance of something evil or unpleasant approaching; as, the clouds threaten us with rain or a storm.Definition 2024
threaten
threaten
English
Verb
threaten (third-person singular simple present threatens, present participle threatening, simple past and past participle threatened)
- To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
- 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, in The Hocussing of Cigarette:
- No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.
- He threatened me with a knife.
-
- To menace, or be dangerous.
- The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
- To portend, or give a warning of.
- The black clouds threatened heavy rain.
- (figuratively) To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.)
- 2000, Lew Freedman, Diamonds in the Rough: Baseball Stories from Alaska, ISBN 0945397828, page 69
- The player quickly surmised that things weren't kosher and the suddenly wiser ballplayer threatened the world record for the fifty-yard dash as he sought safety. As Reynolds dived into the van, Dietz and the other players rolled with laughter.
- 2000, Lew Freedman, Diamonds in the Rough: Baseball Stories from Alaska, ISBN 0945397828, page 69
Usage notes
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs
Translations
to make a threat against someone; to use threats
|
|
to menace, or be dangerous
to portend, or give a warning