Definitions for: Menace


[n] a threat or the act of threatening; "he spoke with desperate menace"
[n] something that is a source of danger; "earthquakes are a constant threat in Japan"
[v] act in a threatening manner; "A menacing person"
[v] express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture; "he menaced the bank manager with a stick"
[v] pose a threat to; present a danger to; "The pollution is endangering the crops"



Webster (1913) Definition: Men"ace, n. [F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr.
minax, -acis, projecting, threatening, minae projecting
points or pinnacles, threats. Cf. Amenable, Demean,
Imminent, Minatory.]
The show of an intention to inflict evil; a threat or
threatening; indication of a probable evil or catastrophe to
come.

His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces.
--Milman.

The dark menace of the distant war. --Dryden.


Men"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Menaced ([=a]st); p. pr.
& vb. n. Menacing.] [OF. menacier, F. menacer. See
Menace, n.]
1. To express or show an intention to inflict, or to hold out
a prospect of inflicting, evil or injury upon; to
threaten; -- usually followed by with before the harm
threatened; as, to menace a country with war.

My master . . . did menace me with death. --Shak.

2. To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted.

By oath he menaced Revenge upon the cardinal.
--Shak.


Men"ace, v. i.
To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.

Who ever knew the heavens menace so? --Shak.

Synonyms: endanger, imperil, jeopardise, jeopardize, peril, threat, threaten

See Also: act, be, behave, danger, do, evince, exist, express, show, threat, yellow peril

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