threaten English · revision 15131

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈθret.ən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|thretenen]], [[inh|ang|þrēatnian|t=to urge, force, threaten]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) formed from [[m|ang|þrēat|t=coercion, threat]] (see [[threat]]) and a verb suffix.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) The earlier verb threat, now archaic, is from [[m|ang|þrēatian]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To press, urge or force: about 1000.^(OED 1989) To try to influence someone with menaces: about 1290 in the OED, the late 13th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To command with threats is from 1382.^(OED 1989) Of things, to give an ominous sign of something is from 1611, to be likely to injure from 1638, and to seem likely to do harm from 1780.^(OED 1989) ''Threatened'', of wild species in danger of extinction, is by 1960.^(Etymonline) In Yorkshire and Cheshire dialect to threaten meant to intend or promise, as to threaten to buy something.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – to urge, force.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1290 – to use threats.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – to portend.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1638 – to be likely to injure.^(OED 1989)

+ * by 1960 – threatened species.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To express a threat against someone.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To be a source of danger to; to [[menace]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To give signs of; to [[portend]]: ''dark clouds threatened rain''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To announce the possibility of something as a threat.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[threatener]]

+ * [[threateningly]]

+ * [[outthreaten]]

+ * [[rethreaten]]

+ * [[threatening]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[threat]]

+ * [[thrust]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}