I. ˈmenəs also -nis noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English manace, menasse, from Middle French manace, menace, from Latin minacia, from minac-, minax projecting, threatening (from minari to project, threaten) + -ia -y — more at mount
1.
a. : a show of intention to inflict harm : a threatening gesture, statement, or act
menaces of damnation — T.S.Eliot
spitting angry menaces at her — Arnold Bennett
would advance with simulated menace — Osbert Lancaster
exploding in menaces and threats of vengeance — George Meredith
b. : threatening import, character, or aspect : threat
ominous silence of the woods held no menace for her — Osbert Sitwell
the menace of the European war to American interests — C.B.Forcey
the sky became leaden with vague menace — Adrian Bell
with a hysterical cry of menace — C.G.D.Roberts
c. : the condition of being threatened : a threatening atmosphere or situation
in the menace and confusion of the … postwar period — Hans Weigel
: impending evil
a sense of menace , of unease, runs through their conversation — T.H.White b.1915
2.
a. : someone or something that represents a threat : danger
tuberculosis and sphilis were major menaces — T.H.Fielding
the intoxicated motorist is a menace to life and limb — Wayne Hughes
the menaces of air, such as tornado and whirlwind — Osbert Sitwell
b. : a person whose actions or idiosyncrasies cause intense annoyance or discomfiture
that boy's a menace
her friends were beginning to find her a menace — Guy McCrone
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English manacen, menacen, from Middle French manacer, menacer, from manace, menace, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to make a show of intention to harm : make a threatening gesture, statement, or act against
menaced him with immediate expulsion — G.B.Shaw
b. : to threaten the infliction of : offer threat of
menacing the emperor's displeasure — S.T.Coleridge
he menaced ruin — H.R.Trevor-Roper
2. : to represent or pose a threat to : endanger
the ferries were menaced by floating mines — P.W.Thompson
mature bolls are menaced by the army worm — American Guide Series: Arkansas
intransitive verb
: to make a threatening gesture, statement, or act
the few snakes that menace with their mouths open — C.H.Curran & Carl Kauffeld
Synonyms: see threaten