WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Threat"en
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [OE. . See Threat, v. t.]
Definition : 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.

t. [imp. & p. p. Threatened; p. pr. & vb. n. Threatening.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : Threat"en
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : Defn: To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance. Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. Shak.

i.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913