Threaten \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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)