Search the Dictionary

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

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.

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…

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.

adverse pawn which makes a first move of two squares by a pawn already so advanced as to threaten the first of these squares. The pawn which takes en passant is advanced to the threatened square.

Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity; unpropitious; calamitous; as, evil tidings; evil arrows; evil days. Because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel. Deut. xxii. 19. The owl shrieked at thy birth -- an evil sign. Shak. Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton. E…

run in dept by getting goods made up in a way unsuitable for the use of others, and then threatening not to take them except on credit. [R.] Goldsmith.

k of; to secure or guard the flank of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to attack; the flank of.

er's tongue. Pope. Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front. Shak. His front yet threatens, and his frowns command. Prior.

To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavor or threateningly; to lower; as, polite society frowns upon rudeness. The sky doth frown and lower upon our army. Shak.

The deep, threatening sound made by a surly dog; a grumbling sound.

To hover; to impend; to appear threateningly; -- usually with over; as, evils hang over the country.

To treat with insolence; to threaten; to bully; hence, to torment by words; to tease; to taunt; to worry or irritate by bullying. Dryden.

To hang about; to move to and fro near a place, threateningly, watchfully, or irresolutely. Agricola having sent his navy to hover on the coast. Milton. Hovering o'er the paper with her quill. Shak.

To make a threatening sound, like the clash of arms; to make a sound as of confused clashing or confusion; to resound. The noise of battle hurtled in the air. Shak. The earthquake sound Hurtling 'death the solid ground. Mrs. Browning.

Having a bad look; threatening; ugly. See Note under Ill, adv.