v.
Pronunciation: ' thre-t ə n
Function: verb
Inflected Form: threat · ened ; threat · en · ing \ ' thret-ni ŋ , ' thre-t ə n-i ŋ \
Date: 13th century
transitive verb
1 : to utter threats against
2 a : to give signs or warning of : PORTEND <the clouds threaten ed rain> b : to hang over dangerously : MENACE <famine threaten s the city>
3 : to announce as intended or possible <the workers threaten ed a strike>
4 : to cause to feel insecure or anxious <felt threaten ed by his brother's success>
intransitive verb
1 : to utter threats
2 : to portend evil
– threat · en · er \ ' thret-n ə r, ' thre-t ə n- ə r \ noun
– threat · en · ing · ly \ ' thret-ni ŋ -l ē , ' thre-t ə n-i ŋ - \ adverb