threatened
UK: ˈθretnd | US: ˈθretnd
adj. feeling or showing vulnerability to harm or danger
vt. (past tense of "threaten") to express an intention to harm or take hostile action
threatened = threaten<to menace> + ed<past participle suffix>
- threaten: Derived from Old English þreátian (to press, oppress), from þreát (menace, punishment). The root implies coercion or impending harm.
- ed: A suffix marking past tense or past participle in English, from Old English -ed, -od, -ad.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Old English þreátian, reflecting early Germanic notions of coercion. Over time, "threaten" evolved to emphasize verbal or implied danger, while the suffix -ed standardized its past tense form. The modern sense retains the core idea of perceived or actual danger.
The species is threatened by habitat destruction.
She felt threatened by his aggressive tone.
The storm clouds threatened heavy rain.
He threatened to resign if his demands were ignored.
Endangered animals are often threatened by poaching.