THREATEN

threaten. Threaten, v.t. to menace, to denounce some evil

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Threat″en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Threatened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Threatening.] [[OE. þretenen. See Threat, v. t.]] 1. 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. 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.