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threat definition

threat (t̸hret)

noun

  1. an expression of intention to hurt, destroy, punish, etc., as in retaliation or intimidation
    1. an indication of imminent danger, harm, evil, etc. the threat of war
    2. 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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