Threaten — Defs

01 v. t. To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or …

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 death.
“The skies look grimly And threaten present blusters.” — Shak.

“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.

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.

02 v. i. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.

1.
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
“Though the seas threaten, they are merciful.” — Shak.