menace English · revision 971

11 Oct 2026, 03:45 by bogdan “New entry from the dictionary sources (AHD, Barnhart, Etymonline, MW, OED, RHWU, Wiktionary)” current version
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+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA: /ˈmɛnɪs/^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[inh|enm|manace]], [[bor|fro|menace|t=threat]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-vul|*minācia]], the singular of [[la|mināciae|t=threats]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''mināx'' “threatening, jutting out”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''minārī'' “to threaten, to project”, from ''minae'' “threats; projecting points”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ A declaration of hostile intent, a threat (before 1300);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the verb is recorded from 1303.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ The Latin words connected threatening with jutting or overhanging, as of a menacing rock.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) From the 14th century impersonal things could be said to menace (1377).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) A ''menace'' as a state of things threatening danger dates from 1857,^(OED 1989) and as a colloquial name for an annoying or troublesome person from 1936.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The Century Dictionary noted that ''[[threaten]]'' is used of great and small things alike, while ''menace'' belongs to dignified style and serious matters.^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * before 1300 – a threat; the action of threatening.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)
+ * 1303 – verb, to threaten.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)
+ * 1377 – verb, of things, to pose a threat.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1857 – a threatening state of things.^(OED 1989)
+ * 1936 – an annoying or troublesome person.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)
+ 
+ ==Modern meaning==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A possible danger; a [[threat]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # The act of threatening.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)
+ # A troublesome or annoying person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ===Verb===
+ # To threaten; to make threats against.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To pose a threat to; to [[endanger]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)
+ # To make threats; to act in a threatening manner.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[menacer]]
+ * [[menacingly]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[threaten]]
+ * [[minatory]]
+ * [[imminent]]
+ * [[eminent]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}