Threaten

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: ἀπειλέω (Strong'S #546 — Verb — apeileo — ap-i-leh'-o )

is used of Christ, negatively, in  1 Peter 2:23; in the Middle Voice,  Acts 4:17 , where some texts have the noun apeile in addition, hence the Av, "let us straitly threaten," lit., "let us threaten ... with threatening" (see Threatening). (See also Straitly. )

2: προσαπειλέω (Strong'S #4324 — Verb — prosapeileo — pros-ap-i-leh'-o )

"to threaten further" (pros, and No. 1), occurs in the Middle Voice in  Acts 4:21 .

King James Dictionary

Threaten, thret'n.

1. To declare the purpose of inflicting punishment, pain or other evil on another, for some sin or offense to menace. God threatens the finally impenitent with everlasting banishment from his presence. 2. To menace to terrify or attempt to terrify by menaces as for extorting money.

To send threatening letters is a punishable offense.

3. To charge or enjoin with menace, or with implied rebuke or to charge strictly.

Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in his name.  Acts 4 .

4. To menace by action to present the appearance of coming evil as, rolling billows threaten to overwhelm us. 5. To exhibit the appearance of something evil or unpleasant approaching as, the clouds threaten us with rain or a storm.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( v. i.) To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.

(2): ( v. t.) To utter threats against; to menace; to inspire with apprehension; to alarm, or attempt to alarm, as with the promise of something evil or disagreeable; to warn.

(3): ( v. t.) To exhibit the appearance of (something evil or unpleasant) as approaching; to indicate as impending; to announce the conditional infliction of; as, to threaten war; to threaten death.