Word Study
threat
CIDE DICTIONARY
threat, n. [AS. , akin to ā to vex, G. verdriessen, OHG. irdriozan, Icel. to fail, want, lack, Goth. us to vex, to trouble, Russ. trudite to impose a task, irritate, vex, L. trudere to push. Cf. Abstruse, Intrude, Obstrude, Protrude.].
The expression of an intention to inflict evil or injury on another; the declaration of an evil, loss, or pain to come; menace; threatening; denunciation. [1913 Webster]
"There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats." [1913 Webster]
threat, v. t. & i. [OE. , AS. . See Threat, n. ].
To threaten. Shak. [1913 Webster]
"Of all his threating reck not a mite." [1913 Webster]
"Our dreaded admiral from far they threat." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
threat, n.
1 a a declaration of an intention to punish or hurt. b Law a menace of bodily hurt or injury, such as may restrain a person's freedom of action.
2 an indication of something undesirable coming (the threat of war).
3 a person or thing as a likely cause of harm etc.
1 a a declaration of an intention to punish or hurt. b Law a menace of bodily hurt or injury, such as may restrain a person's freedom of action.
2 an indication of something undesirable coming (the threat of war).
3 a person or thing as a likely cause of harm etc.
Etymology
OE threat affliction etc. f. Gmc
THESAURUS
threat
admonishment, admonition, alarm, breakers ahead, cardhouse, cause for alarm, caution, caveat, commination, crisis, danger, dangerous ground, deterrent example, emergency, endangerment, example, final notice, final warning, foreboding, forewarning, gaping chasm, gathering clouds, hazard, hint, house of cards, imperilment, intimation, intimidation, jeopardy, lesson, menace, monition, moral, notice, notification, object lesson, omen, pass, peril, pinch, plight, portent, predicament, presage, quicksand, risk, rocks ahead, storm clouds, strait, thin ice, tip-off, ultimatum, verbum sapienti, warning, warning pieceROGET THESAURUS
threat
Defiance
N defiance, daring, dare, challenge, cartel, threat, war cry, war whoop, chest-beating, chest-thumping, saber rattling, defiant, defying, with 'with arms akimbo', in defiance of, in the teeth of, under one's very nose, Int, do your worst!, come if you dare!, come on!, marry come up!, hoity toity!, noli me tangere, nemo me impune lacessit, don't tread on me, don't you dare, don't even think of it, Go ahead, make my day!.Malediction
N malediction, malison, curse, imprecation, denunciation, execration, anathema, ban, proscription, excommunication, commination, thunders of the Vatican, fulmination, maranatha, aspersion, disparagement, vilification, vituperation, abuse, foul language, bad language, strong language, unparliamentary language, billingsgate, sauce, evil speaking, cursing, profane swearing, oath, foul invective, ribaldry, rude reproach, scurrility, threat, more bark than bite, invective, cursing, cursed, Int, woe to!, beshrew!, ruat coelum!, ill betide, woe betide, confusion seize!, damn!, damn it!, damn you!, damn you to hell!, go to hell!, go to blazes!, confound!, blast!, curse!, devil take!, hang!, out with!, a plague upon!, out upon!, aroynt!, honi soit!, parbleu!, delenda est Carthago.Threat
N threat, menace, defiance, abuse, minacity, intimidation, denunciation, fulmination, commination, gathering clouds, threatening, menacing, minatory, minacious, comminatory, abusive, in terrorem, ominous, defiant, under the ban, Int, vae victis!, at your peril!, do your worst!.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.
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