Menace

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmÉ›nɪs/

First attested ante 1300: from the Old French manace, menace, from the Latin minācia, from minax ("threatening"), from minor ("I threaten").

Full definition of menace

Noun

1. a perceived threat or danger
• Drydenthe dark menace of the distant war
2. the act of threatening
3. an annoying and bothersome person

First attested in 1303: from the Old French menacer, manecier, manechier and the Anglo-Norman manasser, from the assumed Vulgar Latin *mināciāre, from the Latin minācia, whence the noun.

Verb

1. To make threats against (someone); to intimidate.to menace a country with war
• ShakespeareMy master ... did menace me with death.
2. To threaten (an evil to be inflicted).
• ShakespeareBy oath he menaced
  Revenge upon the cardinal.
3. To endanger (someone or something); to imperil or jeopardize.