Word Study
threaten
CIDE DICTIONARY
threaten, v. t. [OE. . See Threat, 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 disagreeable; to warn. [1913 Webster]"Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name." [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]"The skies look grimly
And threaten present blusters." [1913 Webster]"By turns put on the suppliant and the lord:
Threatened this moment, and the next implored." [1913 Webster]"Of the sharp ax
Regardless, that o'er his devoted head
Hangs menacing." [1913 Webster]
Syn. -- To menace.
threaten, v. i.
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance. [1913 Webster]
"Though the seas threaten, they are merciful." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
threaten, v.tr.
1 make a threat or threats against.
2 be a sign or indication of (something undesirable).
3 (foll. by to + infin.) announce one's intention to do an undesirable or unexpected thing (threatened to resign).
4 (also absol.) give warning of the infliction of (harm etc.) (the clouds were threatening rain).
1 make a threat or threats against.
2 be a sign or indication of (something undesirable).
3 (foll. by to + infin.) announce one's intention to do an undesirable or unexpected thing (threatened to resign).
4 (also absol.) give warning of the infliction of (harm etc.) (the clouds were threatening rain).
Derivative
threatener n. threateningly adv.
Etymology
OE threatnian (as THREAT)
THESAURUS
threaten
abuse, admonish, advise, afflict, aggrieve, alert, anticipate, apprehend, approach, augur, await, be destined, be fated, be imminent, be in store, be to be, be to come, befoul, bewitch, blight, bludgeon, bluster, bluster out of, bode, brew, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, caution, come, come on, comminate, condemn, confront, corrupt, cow, croak, crucify, cry havoc, curse, damage, daunt, defile, demoralize, denounce, deprave, despoil, destroy, disadvantage, disserve, distress, do a mischief, do evil, do ill, do wrong, do wrong by, doom, dragoon, draw near, draw nigh, draw on, endanger, envenom, expect, face, forebode, foresee, foretell, forewarn, forthcome, gather, get into trouble, give fair warning, give notice, give warning, hang over, harass, harm, have a premonition, have a presentiment, hector, hex, hope, hover, huff, hurt, impair, impend, imperil, infect, injure, intimidate, issue an ultimatum, jeopardize, jinx, lie ahead, lie over, look black, look for, look forward to, look threatening, loom, lower, maltreat, menace, mistreat, molest, near, notify, outrage, overhang, persecute, plan, play havoc with, play hob with, plot, poison, pollute, portend, preapprehend, predict, prejudice, presage, project, prophesy, put in jeopardy, savage, scathe, sound the alarm, systematically terrorize, taint, terrorize, tip, tip off, torment, torture, utter a caveat, utter threats against, violate, warn, warn against, wound, wreak havoc on, wrongROGET THESAURUS
threaten
Defiance
VB defy, dare, beard, brave, bid defiance to, set at defiance, set at naught, hurl defiance at, dance the war dance, beat the war drums, snap the fingers at, laugh to scorn, disobey, show fight, show one's teeth, show a bold front, bluster, look big, stand akimbo, beat one's chest, double the fist, shake the fist, threaten, challenge, call out, throw down the gauntlet, fling down the gauntlet, fling down the gage, fling down the glove, throw down the glove.Futurity
VB look forwards, anticipate, forestall, come on, draw on, draw near, approach, await, threaten, impend.Destiny
VB impend, hang over, lie over, threaten, loom, await, come on, approach, stare one in the face, foreordain, preordain, predestine, doom, have in store for.Fear
VB fear, stand in awe of, be afraid, have qualms, apprehend, sit upon thorns, eye askance, distrust, hesitate, falter, funk, cower, crouch, skulk, let 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would' take fright, take alarm, start, wince, flinch, shy, shrink, fly, tremble, shake, shiver, shiver in one's shoes, shudder, flutter, shake like an aspen leaf, tremble like an aspen leaf, tremble all over, quake, quaver, quiver, quail, grow pale, turn pale, blench, stand aghast, not dare to say one's soul is one's own, inspire fear, excite fear, inspire awe, excite awe, raise apprehensions, be in a daze, bulldoze, faze, feeze, give an alarm, raise an alarm, sound an alarm, alarm, startle, scare, cry 'wolf', disquiet, dismay, fright, frighten, terrify, astound, fright from one's propriety, fright out of one's senses, fright out of one's wits, fright out of one's seven senses, awe, strike all of a heap, strike an awe into, strike terror, harrow up the soul, appall, unman, petrify, horrify, pile on the agony, make one's flesh creep, make one's hair stand on end, make one's blood run cold, make one's teeth chatter, take away one's breath, stop one's breath, make one tremble, haunt, prey on the mind, weigh on the mind, put in fear, put in bodily fear, terrorize, intimidate, cow, daunt, overawe, abash, deter, discourage, browbeat, bully, threaten.Malediction
VB curse, accurse, imprecate, damn, swear at, curse with bell book and candle, invoke curses on the head of, call down curses on the head of, devote to destruction, execrate, beshrew, scold, anathematize, bold up to execration, denounce, proscribe, excommunicate, fulminate, thunder against, threaten, curse and swear, swear, swear like a trooper, fall a cursing, rap out an oath, damn.Threat
VB threat, threaten, menace, snarl, growl, gnarl, mutter, bark, bully, defy, intimidate, keep in terrorem, hold up in terrorem, hold out in terrorem, shake the fist at, double the fist at, clinch the fist at, thunder, talk big, fulminate, use big words, bluster, look daggers, stare daggers.For further exploring for "threaten" in Webster Dictionary Online
