threat
threat definition
threat (t̸hret)
noun
- an expression of intention to hurt, destroy, punish, etc., as in retaliation or intimidation
- an indication of imminent danger, harm, evil, etc. the threat of war
- a potential source of this
Etymology: ME threte < OE threat, a throng, painful pressure, akin to Ger (ver)driessen, to grieve, annoy < IE *treud-, to push, press (prob. < base *ter-, to rub) > L trudere, to thrust
transitive verb, intransitive verb
Obsolete threaten
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