"declaration of hostile intent", also "act of threatening", from Old French...
(Source: Online Etymology) [more]
to threaten with violence, danger, etc | [literary] a threat or the act of threatening | something menacing; a source of danger | [informal] a ... (22 of 453 words, 4 definitions, 9 usage examples, pronunciation)
a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger | a threatening quality or atmosphere | ("menaces") [British] : threatening words ... (24 of 137 words, 5 definitions, 6 usage examples, pronunciation)
may mean: a threat or danger that causes intimidation | a legal term of art - see Blackmail#menaces | Menace (Greek settlement), (Greek Μαινάκη Mainákē), an ancient Greek settlement to the southeast of Spain, according to Strabo | Menace... (36 of 135 words, 8 definitions)
a show of intention to inflict harm; "threat" | one that represents a threat; "danger" ; an annoying person (18 of 115 words, 2 definitions, pronunciation)
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menace
to make a show of intention to harm | to represent or pose a threat to; "endanger" | to act in a threatening manner (22 of 109 words, 3 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
[countable] someone or something that is dangerous and likely to cause harm | [countable] someone or something that annoys or threatens you | ... (21 of 102 words, 4 definitions, 4 usage examples, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/menace
to threaten someone or something (5 of 38 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/menace 11
A possible danger; a threat | The act of threatening. | A troublesome or annoying person | To utter threats against. | To constitute a threat to; ... (23 of 91 words, 6 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
something that is likely to cause harm | a dangerous quality that makes you think someone is going to do something bad | a person, especially a child, ... (26 of 90 words, 4 definitions, 6 usage examples, pronunciation)
dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/menace 1
If someone or something menaces a person or thing, they threaten seriously to harm it (15 of 30 words, 1 usage example, pronunciation)
something that threatens to cause evil, harm, injury, etc.; a threat. | a person whose actions, attitudes, or ideas are considered dangerous or ... (22 of 86 words, 6 definitions, 2 usage examples, pronunciation)
a threat or the act of threatening | anything threatening harm or evil | [informal] a person who is a nuisance | to threaten or be a danger (to) (26 of 67 words, 4 definitions, pronunciation)
a perceived threat or danger | the act of threatening | an annoying and bothersome person | to make threats (against someone); to intimidate | to endanger someone or something; to imperil or jeopardize (30 of 32 words, 5 definitions)
a possible source of danger or harm | a constant source of trouble and annoyance (informal) | a threatening quality, feeling, or tone | a threatening ... (23 of 144 words, 6 definitions, pronunciation)
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861629215/definition.html [offline]
First use: about 1300
Origin: "declaration of hostile intent", also "act of threatening", from Old French menace, from Vulgar Latin minacia "threat, menace", singular ... (21 of 53 etymology words)
Origin: First attested ante 1300: from the Old French manace, menace, from the Latin minācia, from minax ("threatening"), from minor ("I threaten"). | First attested in 1303: from the Old French menacer, ... (30 of 49 etymology words)
Origin: Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *minācia, singular of Latin mināciae, threats, menaces, from ... (16 of 33 etymology words)
Origin: Old French from Latin minacia from minax (generally minacis), projecting, threatening from minari, to threaten from ... (16 of 33 etymology words)
Origin: Middle English: via Old French from late Latin minacia, from Latin minax, minac- "threatening", from minae "threats"
First use: 13th century
Origin: ultimately related to Latin minax threatening, from mināri to threaten
First use: 14th century
Origin: Middle English manace, from Anglo-French manace, menace, from Latin minacia, from minac-, minax threatening, from minari to threaten
First use: 14th century
Origin: French from Latin minac- "threatening" from minari "threaten" from minae "threats", literally "projecting points"
encarta.msn.com/dictionary 1861629215/definition.html [offline]
Audio: British English pronunciation of "menace"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/menace
Audio: British English pronunciation of "menace"
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Audio: North American pronunciation of "menace"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/menace
Audio: North American pronunciation of "menace"
www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/menace 11
Audio: North American pronunciation of "menace"
www.merriam-webster.com/audio.php file=menace01 word=menace
Page last updated: 2013-06-26