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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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.
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Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak
henceforth to no man in this name. --Acts iv. 17.
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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.
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The skies look grimly
And threaten present blusters. --Shak.
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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.
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By turns put on the suppliant and the lord:
Threatened this moment, and the next implored.
--Prior.
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Of the sharp ax
Regardless, that o'er his devoted head
Hangs menacing. --Somerville.
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Threaten \Threat"en\, v. i.
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening
appearance.
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Though the seas threaten, they are merciful. --Shak.
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