Menace

v. t. [imp. & p. p. MENACED (mĕn'est); p. pr. & vb. n. MENACING.] [Fr. menacer, Pr. menassar, It. minacciare, Sp. amenazar. See infra.]

1Sense 1. To express or show a disposition or determination to inflict, or to hold out a prospect of inflicting, evil upon; to threaten;—usually followed by with before the event threatened.

My master fearfully did menace me with death. Shak.

2Sense 2. To hold out threat against; to inspire with apprehension; to cause to fear, or expect the infliction of, some evil.

The man presents himself to their thoughts but to menace and alarm them. Burke.

n. [Fr. menace, Pr. menassa, It. minaccia, Sp. amenaza, from Lat. minaciæ, for minæ, fr. minax, projecting, threatening, from minere, to jut, project.] The show of a disposition or intention to inflict an evil; a threat or threatening; the show of a probable evil or catastrophe to come.

Synonyms—See THREAT.