Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Menace

Men′ace

(mĕn′ā̍s; 48)
,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
minaciae
threats, menaces, fr.
minax
,
-acis
, projecting, threatening,
minae
projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf.
Amenable
,
Demean
,
Imminent
,
Minatory
.]
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

(mĕn′ā̍s; 48)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Menaced
(āst)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Menacing
.]
[OF.
menacier
, F.
menacer
. See
Menace
,
Noun.
]
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.
Shakespeare
2.
To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted.
By oath he
menaced

Revenge upon the cardinal.
Shakespeare

Men′ace

,
Verb.
I.
To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.
Who ever knew the heavens
menace
so?
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Menace

MEN'ACE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. minor.]
1.
To threaten; to express or show a disposition or determination to inflict punishment or other evil. The combined powers menaced France with war on every side.
2.
To show or manifest the probability of future evil or danger to. The spirit of insubordination menaced Spain with the horrors of civil war.
3.
To exhibit the appearance of any catastrophe to come; as, a hanging rock menaces a fall, or menaces the plain or the inhabitants below.

MEN'ACE

,
Noun.
A threat or threatening; the declaration or show of a disposition or determination to inflict an evil; used of persons.
1.
The show of a probable evil or catastrophe to come.

Definition 2024


menace

menace

See also: menacé

English

Noun

menace (plural menaces)

  1. a perceived threat or danger.
    • Dryden
      the dark menace of the distant war.
  2. the act of threatening.
  3. an annoying and bothersome person.

Translations

References

Etymology 2

First attested in 1303: from the Old French menacer, manecier, manechier and the Anglo-Norman manasser, from the assumed Vulgar Latin *mināciāre, from the Latin minācia, whence the noun.

Verb

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

  1. To make threats against (someone); to intimidate.
    to menace a country with war
    • Shakespeare
      My master [] did menace me with death.
  2. To threaten (an evil to be inflicted).
    • Shakespeare
      By oath he menaced / Revenge upon the cardinal.
  3. To endanger (someone or something); to imperil or jeopardize.

Translations

References

  • menace, v.” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary [2nd Ed.; 1989]

French

Etymology

From Latin minācia < minax.

Pronunciation

Noun

menace f (plural menaces)

  1. threat

Related terms

Verb

menace

  1. first-person singular present indicative of menacer
  2. third-person singular present indicative of menacer
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of menacer
  4. first-person singular present subjunctive of menacer
  5. second-person singular imperative of menacer