menace
    n 1: something that is a source of danger; "earthquakes are a
         constant threat in Japan" [syn: menace, threat]
    2: a threat or the act of threatening; "he spoke with desperate
       menace"
    v 1: pose a threat to; present a danger to; "The pollution is
         endangering the crops" [syn: endanger, jeopardize,
         jeopardise, menace, threaten, imperil, peril]
    2: express a threat either by an utterance or a gesture; "he
       menaced the bank manager with a stick"
    3: act in a threatening manner; "A menacing person"

Menace \Men"ace\, v. i.
   To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.
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         Who ever knew the heavens menace so?     --Shak.
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Menace \Men"ace\ (m[e^]n"[asl]s; 48), n. [F., fr. L. minaciae
   threats, menaces, fr. minax, -acis, projecting, threatening,
   minae projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf.
   Amenable, Demean, Imminent, Minatory.]
   The show of an intention to inflict evil; a threat or
   threatening; indication of a probable evil or catastrophe to
   come.
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         His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces.
                                                  --Milman.
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         The dark menace of the distant war.      --Dryden.
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Menace \Men"ace\ (m[e^]n"[asl]s; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Menaced ([=a]st); p. pr. & vb. n. Menacing.] [OF.
   menacier, F. menacer. See Menace, n.]
   1. To express or show an intention to inflict, or to hold out
      a prospect of inflicting, evil or injury upon; to
      threaten; -- usually followed by with before the harm
      threatened; as, to menace a country with war.
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            My master . . . did menace me with death. --Shak.
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   2. To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted.
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            By oath he menaced
            Revenge upon the cardinal.            --Shak.
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MENACE. A threat; a declaration of an intention to cause evil to happen to 
another. 
     2. When menaces to do an injury to another have been made, the party 
making them may, in general, be held to bail to keep the peace; and, when 
followed by any inconvenience or loss, the injured party has a civil action 
against the wrong doer. Com. Dig. Battery, D; Vin. Ab. h.t.; Bac. Ab. 
Assault; Co. Litt. 161 a, 162 b, 253 b; 2 Lutw. 1428. Vide Threat.