Definition  of MENACE
men·ace  (mns)

n.

1.

a. A possible danger; a threat: the menace of nuclear war.

b. The act of threatening.

2. A troublesome or annoying person: a toddler who was a menace in a shop full of crystal.

v. men·aced, men·ac·ing, men·ac·es

v.tr.

1. To utter threats against.

2. To constitute a threat to; endanger.

v.intr.

To make threats.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *mincia, sing. of Latin minciae, threats, menaces, from minx, minc-, threatening, from minr, to threaten, from minae, threats; see men-² in Indo-European roots.]

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menac·er n.

menac·ing·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

men·ace

noun \ˈme-nəs\

Definition of MENACE

1

: a show of intention to inflict harm : threat

2

a : one that represents a threat : danger

b : an annoying person

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Examples of MENACE

1. There was an atmosphere of menace in the city.
2. She could hear the menace in his voice.

Origin of MENACE

Middle English manace, from Anglo-French manace, menace, from Latin minacia, from minac-, minax threatening, from minari to threaten — more at mount

First Known Use: 14th century