n. 1. a. A possible danger; a threat: a careless driver who was a menace to public safety. b. The quality of being threatening: a hint of menace in his voice. 2. A troublesome or annoying person: considered her little brother to be a menace. tr.v. men·aced, men·ac·ing, men·ac·es To constitute a threat to; endanger: Rome was menaced by invading armies. [Middle English manace, from Old French, from Late Latin minācia, sing. of Latin mināciae, threats, menaces, from mināx, mināc-, threatening, from minārī, to threaten, from minae, threats; see men-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] menac·er n. menac·ing·ly adv. |
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