Threap, v. i. To contend obstinately; to be pertinacious. [Prov. Eng. &
Scot.]
It's not for a man with a woman to threap.
Percy's Reliques.
Threap (?), n. An obstinate decision or determination; a pertinacious
affirmation. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
He was taken a threap that he would have it finished before the year
was done.
Carlyle.
Threat (thrt), n. [AS. þreát, akin to þreótan to vex, G. verdriessen,
OHG. irdriozan, Icel. þrjta to fail, want, lack, Goth. usþriutan to
vex, to trouble, Russ. trudite to impose a task, irritate, vex, L.
trudere to push. Cf. Abstruse, Intrude, Obstrude, Protrude.] The
expression of an intention to inflict evil or injury on another; the
declaration of an evil, loss, or pain to come; menace; threatening;
denunciation.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats.
Shak.
Threat, v. t. & i. [OE. þreten, AS. þreátian. See Threat, n.] To
threaten. [Obs. or Poetic] Shak.
Of all his threating reck not a mite.
Chaucer.
Our dreaded admiral from far they threat.
Dryden.
Threat"en (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Threatened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Threatening.] [OE. þretenen. See Threat, v. t.] 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. Milton.
The skies look grimly And threaten present blusters.
Shak.
Syn. — To menace. — 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, v. i. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a
threatening appearance.
Though the seas threaten, they are merciful.
Shak.
Threat"en*er (?), n. One who threatens. Shak.
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.
Threat"ful (?), a. Full of threats; having a menacing appearance.
Spenser. — Threat"ful*ly, adv.