threaten

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English thretenen, from Old English þrēatnian (“to urge, force, compel”), equivalent to threat +‎ -en. === Pronunciation === enPR: thrĕt′n̩ (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA(key): /ˈθɹɛt.n̩/, [ˈθɹɛt.n̩], [ˈθɹɛʔ.n̩] Hyphenation: threat‧en Rhymes: -ɛtn̩ === Verb === threaten (third-person singular simple present threatens, present participle threatening, simple past and past participle threatened) To make a threat against someone; to use threats. To menace, or be dangerous. To portend, or give a warning of. Antonym: promise To call into question the validity of (a belief, idea, or viewpoint); to challenge. (figuratively) To be close to equaling or surpassing (a record, etc.); to challenge. 2000, Lew Freedman, Diamonds in the Rough: Baseball Stories from Alaska, →ISBN, page 69 The player quickly surmised that things weren't kosher and the suddenly wiser ballplayer threatened the world record for the fifty-yard dash as he sought safety. As Reynolds dived into the van, Dietz and the other players rolled with laughter. ==== Usage notes ==== This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive. See Appendix:English catenative verbs ==== Derived terms ==== forethreaten threatening threatensome ==== Translations ====