MENACE

menace

(noun) a threat or the act of threatening; “he spoke with desperate menace”

menace, threat

(noun) something that is a source of danger; “earthquakes are a constant threat in Japan”

menace

(verb) act in a threatening manner; “A menacing person”

menace

(verb) express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture; “he menaced the bank manager with a stick”

endanger, jeopardize, jeopardise, menace, threaten, imperil, peril

(verb) pose a threat to; present a danger to; “The pollution is endangering the crops”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Etymology 1

Noun

menace (plural menaces)

A perceived threat or danger.

The act of threatening.

(informal) An annoying and bothersome person or thing.

Etymology 2

Verb

menace (third-person singular simple present menaces, present participle menacing, simple past and past participle menaced) (ambitransitive)

(transitive) To make threats against (someone); to intimidate.

To threaten (an evil to be inflicted).

To endanger (someone or something); to imperil or jeopardize.

Source: Wiktionary

---

Men"ace, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr. minax, - acis, projecting, threatening, minae projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf. Amenable, Demean, Imminent, Minatory.]

Definition: The show of an intention to inflict evil; a threat or threatening; indication of a probable evil or catastrophe to come. His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces. Milman. The dark menace of the distant war. Dryden.

Men"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Menaced (ast); p. pr. & vb. n. Menacing.] Etym: [OF. menacier, F. menacer. See Menace, n.]

1. To express or show an intention to inflict, or to hold out a prospect of inflicting, evil or injury upon; to threaten; -- usually followed by with before the harm threatened; as, to menace a country with war. My master . . . did menace me with death. Shak.

2. To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted. By oath he menaced Revenge upon the cardinal. Shak.

Men"ace, v. i.

Definition: To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect. Who ever knew the heavens menace so Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---