DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 threatening
 (a.)脅迫的,危險的

 Threat·en v. t. [imp. & p. p. Threatened p. pr. & vb. n. Threatening.]
 1. To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn.
    Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.   --Acts iv. 17.
 2. To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death.
 The skies look grimly
 And threaten present blusters.   --Shak.
 Syn: -- To menace.
 Usage: -- Threaten, Menace. Threaten is Anglo-Saxon, and menace is Latin. As often happens, the former is the more familiar term; the latter is more employed in formal style. We are threatened with a drought; the country is menaced with war.
 By turns put on the suppliant and the lord:
 Threatened this moment, and the next implored.   --Prior.
 Of the sharp ax
 Regardless, that o'er his devoted head
 Hangs menacing.   --Somerville.

 Threat·en·ing, a. & n. from Threaten, v. -- Threat*en*ing*ly, adv.
 Threatening letters Law, letters containing threats, especially those designed to extort money, or to obtain other property, by menaces; blackmailing letters.
 ◄ ►

 threatening
      adj 1: threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments; "a
             baleful look"; "forbidding thunderclouds"; "his tone
             became menacing"; "ominous rumblings of discontent";
             "sinister storm clouds"; "a sinister smile"; "his
             threatening behavior"; "ugly black clouds"; "the
             situation became ugly" [syn: baleful, forbidding,
             menacing, minacious, minatory, ominous, sinister,
              ugly]
      2: darkened by clouds; "a heavy sky" [syn: heavy, lowering,
          sullen]