Threaten
Threaten , transitive verb
[Old English þretenen. See Threat, transitive verb]
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.
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.
By turns put on the suppliant and the lord:
Threatened this moment, and the next implored.
Of the sharp ax
Regardless, that o'er his devoted head
Hangs menacing.
Threaten , intransitive verb
To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
Though the seas threaten, they are merciful.