Main Entry:

threat·en

Pronunciation:

\ˈthre-t^ən\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

threat·ened; threat·en·ing \ˈthret-niŋ, ˈthre-t^ən-iŋ\

Date:

13th century

transitive verb1: to utter threats against2 a: to give signs or warning of : portend <the clouds threatened rain> b: to hang over dangerously : menace <famine threatens the city>3: to announce as intended or possible <the workers threatened a strike>4: to cause to feel insecure or anxious <felt threatened by his brother's success>intransitive verb1: to utter threats2: to portend evil

— threat·en·er \ˈthret-nər, ˈthre-t^ən-ər\ noun

— threat·en·ing·ly \ˈthret-niŋ-lē, ˈthre-t^ən-iŋ-\ adverb