threaten
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Middle English þreaten or þreten, from Old English þrēatian.
Pronunciation [edit]
Verb [edit]
threaten (third-person singular simple present threatens, present participle threatening, simple past and past participle threatened)
- To make a threat against someone; to use threats.
- 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, The Hocussing of Cigarette[1]:
- No one, however, would have anything to do with him, as Mr. Keeson's orders in those respects were very strict ; he had often threatened any one of his employés with instant dismissal if he found him in company with one of these touts.
- He threatened me with a knife.
- 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 2, The Hocussing of Cigarette[1]:
- To menace, or be dangerous.
- The rocks threatened the ship's survival.
- To portend, or give a warning.
- The black clouds threatened heavy rain.
Usage notes [edit]
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs
Translations [edit]
to make a threat against someone; to use threats
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to menace, or be dangerous
to portend, or give a warning
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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