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Boastful and threatening behavior; a boastful menace. In spite of our host's bravado. Irving.

A bravado; a boast. With so proud a strain Of threats and bravings. Chapman.

A bugbear; anything which terrifies. [Obs.] Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek. Shak.

A noisy, blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous; one who is threatening and quarrelsome; an insolent, tyrannical fellow. Bullies seldom execute the threats they deal in. Palmerston.

an ox or a ram. [See Butt, n.] A snow-white steer before thine altar led, Butts with his threatening brows. Dryden.

That which has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect; that which temporarily overshadows, obscures, or depresses; as, a cloud of sorrow; a cloud of war; a cloud upon the intellect.

A threat or threatening; a denunciation of punishment or vengeance. With terrible comminations to all them that did resist. I. Taylor.

Threatening or denouncing punishment; as, comminatory terms. B. Jonson.

The unlawful forcing of another by threats of violence to yield up something of value. Then concussion, rapine, pilleries, Their catalogue of accusations fill. Daniel. Concussion fuse (Mil.), one that is ignited by the concussion of the shell when it strikes.

In a condition of danger, as from illness; threatened with death. [Colloq.] Forby. Bartlett.

To proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward sign or expression. His look denounced desperate. Milton.

That by which anything is denounced; threat of evil; public menace or accusation; arraignment. Uttering bold denunciations of ecclesiastical error. Motley.

One who denounces, publishes, or proclaims, especially intended or coming evil; one who threatens or accuses.

Characterized by or containing a denunciation; minatory; accusing; threatening; as, severe and denunciatory language.

organs, interrupting or disturbing the performance of the vital functions, and causing or threatening pain and weakness; malady; affection; illness; sickness; disorder; -- applied figuratively to the mind, to the moral character and habits, to institutions, the state, etc. Diseases desperate grown, By desperate applian…

on; fear; apprehension; dread. [Obs.] I stand in doubt of you. Gal. iv. 20. Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt. Spenser.

by argument, and the like. " Enough to drive one mad." Tennyson. He, driven to dismount, threatened, if I did not do the like, to do as much for my horse as fortune had done for his. Sir P. Sidney.

h a person is influenced, whether by the unlawful restrain of his liberty or by actual or threatened physical violence, to incur a civil liability or to commit an offense.

influence a court, jury, etc., corruptly, by promises, entreaties, money, entertainments, threats, or other improper inducements.

Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; -- said of language; as, empty words, or threats. Words are but empty thanks. Cibber.