menace Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun something that is a source of danger
    threat.
    • earthquakes are a constant threat in Japan
  2. noun a threat or the act of threatening
    • he spoke with desperate menace
  3. verb pose a threat to; present a danger to
    jeopardise; peril; jeopardize; imperil; endanger; threaten.
    • The pollution is endangering the crops
  4. verb express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture
    • he menaced the bank manager with a stick
  5. verb act in a threatening manner
    • A menacing person

WordNet

Men"ace noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr. minax, -acis, projecting, threatening, minae projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf. Amenable, Demean, Imminent, Minatory.
Definitions
  1. 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 transitive verb
Etymology
OF. menacier, F. menacer. See Menace, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Menaced present participle & verbal noun Menacing
Definitions
  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 intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.
    Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Shak.

Webster 1913