Threaten word meaning and definition

[verb] to utter intentions of injury or punishment against:"He threatened me when I tried to call the police"
[verb] to be a menacing indication of something:"The clouds threaten rain"; "Danger threatens"
[verb] pose a threat to; present a danger to; "The pollution is endangering the crops"

\Threat"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Threatened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Threatening}.] [OE. [thorn]retenen. 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. Usage: {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.
\Threat"en\, v. i. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. --Shak.

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