menace
UK: ˈmen.əs | US: ˈmen.əs
n. a person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger
vt. to threaten or endanger someone or something
menace = men<mind/threat> + ace<noun suffix>
- men (from Old French menace, ultimately from Latin minacia "threatening things," derived from minax "threatening" < minari "to threaten")
- ace (a noun-forming suffix in Old French, often used to denote abstract nouns or actions)
Etymology Origin:
The word "menace" traces back to Latin minari ("to threaten"), which also gave rise to words like "minatory" and "minacious." The Old French menace preserved the sense of a looming threat, which English adopted in the 14th century. The morpheme men- encapsulates the core idea of threat, while -ace serves as a linguistic marker to nominalize the concept. Over time, "menace" evolved to describe both the act of threatening and the source of danger itself.
The dark clouds were a menace to the picnic plans.
His reckless driving is a menace to public safety.
The dictator’s speeches often menace neighboring countries.
Pollution poses a growing menace to marine life.
She felt a sense of menace in the abandoned house.