English → Latin
“threaten” in Latin
iactōto throw, cast, hurl; to scatter, toss; to disturb, disquiet, torment, agitate, shockimmineōto project, bend or lean toward or over, overhang; to touch on, border upon; to threaten, menaceimpendōto spend or expend; to devote (money, time etc.) toīnstōto stand upon, set foot on; to be nearby, close to, be imminent; to assail, press upon, harassminitorto threatencomminorto threaten someone with something, menace
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
threaten
Transitively, PROP., minas jacere, jactare: minis uti. To threaten one with anything, aliquid alicui minari, minitari, comminari (general term); denunciare alicui aliquid (to give a threatening notice); intentare alicui aliquid (by preparations made, arma alicui intentare): to threaten one with fire and sword, minitari alicui ferrum flammamque, or ferro ignique: to threaten one with war, arma intentare alicui: we are threatened by him with blows, verbera minatur; verbera nobis intentantur.
Figuratively, imminere: impendere. A war with the Parthians threatens us, bellum nobis impendet a Parthis: the enemy’s camp threatens the city, castra hostium imminet portis.
Intransitively, Something threatens (i. e., is near at hand), res imminet, instat, impendet: war, danger threatens, impendet bellum, periculum: it threatens for rain, imbres imminent; nubilatur, or nubilare coepit (it is becoming overcast).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for threaten?
- The usual Latin words for “threaten” are iactō, immineō, impendō; also īnstō, minitor, comminor. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.