Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Threat
Threat
(thrĕt)
, Noun.
[AS.
þreát
, akin to āþreótan
to vex, G. verdriessen
, OHG. irdriozan
, Icel. þrjōta
to fail, want, lack, Goth. usþriutan
to vex, to trouble, Russ. trudite
to impose a task, irritate, vex, L. trudere
to push. Cf. Abstruse
, Intrude
, Obstrude
, Protrude
.] The expression of an intention to inflict evil or injury on another; the declaration of an evil, loss, or pain to come; menace; threatening; denunciation.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your
threats
. Shakespeare
Threat
,Verb.
T.
& I.
To threaten.
[Obs. or Poetic]
Shak.
Of all his
threating
reck not a mite. Chaucer.
Our dreaded admiral from far they
threat
. Dryden.
Webster 1828 Edition
Threat
THREAT
,Noun.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.
THREAT
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
threat
threat
See also: þreat
English
Noun
threat (plural threats)
- An expression of intent to injure or punish another.
- William Shakespeare
- There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.
- William Shakespeare
- An indication of potential or imminent danger.
- 2013 May-June, Katrina G. Claw, “Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3:
- Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.
-
- A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.
- 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:
- Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.
-
Related terms
Translations
expression of intent to injure or punish another
|
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indication of imminent danger
|
person regarded as a danger
Etymology 2
From Middle English threten, from Old English þrēatian (“to press, oppress, repress, correct, threaten”). Akin to Middle Dutch drōten (“to threaten”).
Verb
threat (third-person singular simple present threats, present participle threating, simple past and past participle threated)
- (transitive) To press; urge; compel.
- (transitive, archaic) To threaten.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.vii:
- An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye […]
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, V. i. 37:
- O yes, and soundless too; / For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, / And very wisely threat before you sting.
- 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, I.vii:
- (intransitive) To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.