Men"ace (?), 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.
His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces.
Milman.
The dark menace of the distant war.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.
Men"ace (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Menaced (ast); 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.
My master . . . did menace me with death.
Shak.
2.
To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted.
By oath he menaced
Revenge upon the cardinal.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Men"ace, v. i.
To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.
Who ever knew the heavens menace so?
Shak.
© Webster 1913.