A Threat Was Once a Crowd Pressing In
A threat is a warning of harm. The Old English word meant a crowd or oppression, and the sense of menace grew from being pressed upon.
A threat is a statement or sign that harm may follow. The Old English *þreat* meant a crowd, a troop, or oppression — the feeling of being pressed in on. The modern sense grew from that physical pressure into the psychological one. The verb *threaten* was formed from the noun, not the other way round.
- A warning of harm. *An empty threat.*
- A danger. *A threat to public health.*
- Verb, to threaten. *He threatened to resign.*
- Under threat — at risk. *The building is under threat.*
- Idle threat — one nobody expects to be carried out. *Just an idle threat.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | threat | A veiled threat. |
| Plural | threats | Repeated threats. |
| Verb | threaten | Do not threaten me. |
| Adjective | threatening | A threatening tone. |
| Adjective | threatened | A threatened species. |
- The threat was never carried out.The noun.
- Rising seas threaten the whole delta.The verb.
- The species is listed as threatened.Conservation.
Threat words compared
- Threat — the general word, spoken or implied
- Menace — heavier and more sustained
- Ultimatum — a final demand with a stated consequence
- Warning — neutral, and often intended to help
- Intimidation — the effect of threats on someone's behaviour
Old English *þreat*, a crowd or oppression, from a Germanic root meaning to press. The verb *threaten* is derived from the noun in Old English.
Did threat once mean a crowd?
Yes. The Old English word covered a troop or press of people, and the sense of menace developed from that pressure.
What is the difference between a threat and a warning?
A threat says harm will come from the speaker. A warning says harm may come from elsewhere, and is usually meant to help.