The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1728
Threat (?) , n. [AS. <?/re\'a0t , akin to \'be <?/re\'a2tan to vex, G. ver driessen , OHG. ir driozan , Icel. <?/rj\'d3ta to fail, want, lack, Goth. us <?/riutan to vex, to trouble, Russ. trudite to impose a task, irritate, vex, L. trudere to push. Cf. Abstruse , Intrude , Obstrude , Protrude .] The expression of an intention to inflict evil or injury on another; the declaration of an evil, loss, or pain to come; meance; threatening; denunciation.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats . Shak.
Threat <Xpage=1502>
Threat , v. t. & i. [OE. <?/reten , AS. <?/re\'a0tian . See Threat , n. ] To threaten. [Obs. or Poetic]
Shak.
Of all his threating reck not a mite. Chaucer.
Our dreaded admiral from far they threat . Dryden.
Threaten <Xpage=1502>
Threat"en (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Threatened (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Threatening .] [OE. <?/retenen . See Threat , v. t. ] 1. 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.
Let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. Acts iv. 17.
2. 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 .
Milton.
The skies look grimly And threaten present blusters. Shak.
Syn. -- To menace. -- Threaten , Menace . Threaten is Anglo-Saxon, and menace is Latin. As often happens, the former is the more familiar term; the latter is more employed in formal style. We are threatened with a drought; the country is menaced with war.
By turns put on the suppliant and the lord: Threatened this moment, and the next implored. Prior.
Of the sharp ax Regardless, that o'er his devoted head Hangs menacing . Somerville.
Threaten <Xpage=1502>
Threat"en , v. i. To use threats, or menaces; also, to have a threatening appearance.
Though the seas threaten , they are merciful. Shak.
Threatener <Xpage=1502>
Threat"en*er (?) , n. One who threatens.
Shak.
Threatening <Xpage=1502>
Threat"en*ing , a. & n. from Threaten , v. -- Threat"en*ing*ly , adv.
Threatening letters (Law) , letters containing threats, especially those designed to extort money, or to obtain other property, by menaces; blackmailing letters.
Threatful <Xpage=1502>
Threat"ful (?) , a. Full of threats; having a menacing appearance. Spenser . -- Threat"ful*ly , adv.
Threave <Xpage=1502>
Threave (?) , n. Same as Thrave . [Obs.]
Three <Xpage=1502>
Three (?) , a. [OE. þre , þreo , þri , AS. þr\'c6 , masc., þre\'a2 , fem. and neut.; akin to OFries. thre , OS. thria , threa , D. drie , G. drei , OHG. dr\'c6 , Icel. þr\'c6r , Dan. & Sw. tre , Goth. þreis , Lith. trys , Ir., Gael. & W. tri , Russ. tri , L. tres , Gr. trei^s , Skr. tri . \'fb301. Cf. 3d Drilling , Tern , a. , Third , Thirteen , Thirty , Tierce , Trey , Tri- , Triad , Trinity , Tripod .] One more than two; two and one. "I offer thee three things."
2 Sam. xxiv. 12.
Three solemn aisles approach the shrine. Keble.
&hand; Three is often joined with other words, forming compounds signifying divided into , composed of , or containing , three parts , portions , organs , or the like; as, three -branched, three -capsuled, three -celled, three -cleft, three -edged, three -foot, three -footed, three -forked, three -grained, three -headed, three -legged, three -mouthed, three -nooked, three -petaled, three -pronged, three -ribbed, three -seeded, three -stringed, three -toed, and the like.
Three <Xpage=1502>
Three , n. 1. The number greater by a unit than two; three units or objects.
2. A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii.
Rule of three . (Arith.) See under Rule , n.
Three-coat <Xpage=1502>
Three"-coat` (?) , a. (Arch.) Having or consisting of three coats; -- applied to plastering which consists of pricking-up, floating, and a finishing coat; or, as called in the United States, a scratch coat, browning, and finishing coat.
Three-cornered <Xpage=1502>
Three"-cor`nered (?) , a. 1. Having three corners, or angles; as, a three-cornered hat .
2. (Bot.) Having three prominent longitudinal angles; as, a three-cornered stem .
Three-decker <Xpage=1502>
Three"-deck`er (?) , n. (Naut.) A vessel of war carrying guns on three decks.
Three-flowered <Xpage=1502>
Three"-flow`ered (?) , a. (Bot.) Bearing three flowers together, or only three flowers.
Threefold <Xpage=1502>
Three"fold` (?) , a. [OE. þreofald ; cf. AS. þr\'c6feald .] Consisting of three, or thrice repeated; triple; as, threefold justice .
A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Eccl. iv. 12.
Three-handed <Xpage=1502>
Three"-hand`ed (?) , a. Said of games or contests where three persons play against each other, or two against one; as, a three-handed game of cards .
Three-leafed, Three-leaved <Xpage=1502>
Three"-leafed` (?) , Three"-leaved` (?) , a. (Bot.) (a) Producing three leaves; as, three-leaved nightshade . (b) Consisting of three distinct leaflets; having the leaflets arranged in threes.
Three-leaved nightshade . See Trillium .
Three-lobed <Xpage=1502>
Three"-lobed` (?) , a. Having three lobes.
Three-lobed leaf (Bot.) , a leaf divided into three parts, the sinuses extending not more than half way to the middle, and either the parts of the sinuses being rounded.
Three-nerved <Xpage=1502>
Three"-nerved` (?) , a. Having three nerves.
Three-nerved leaf (Bot.) , a leaf having three distinct and prominent ribs, or nerves, extending from the base.
Three-parted <Xpage=1502>
Three"-part`ed (?) , a. Divided into, or consisting of, three parts; tripartite.
Three-parted leaf (Bot.) , a leaf divided into three parts down to the base, but not entirely separate.
Threepence <Xpage=1502>
Three"pence (?) , n. A small silver coin of three times the value of a penny. [Eng.]
Threepenny <Xpage=1502>
Three"pen*ny (?) , a. Costing or worth three pence; hence, worth but little; poor; mean.
Three-pile <Xpage=1502>
Three"-pile` (?) , n. An old name for the finest and most costly kind of velvet, having a fine, thick pile.
I have served Prince Florizel and in my time wore three-pile . Shak.
Three-piled <Xpage=1502>
Three"-piled` (?) , a. 1. Having the quality of three-pile; best; most costly. [R.]
Thou art good velvet; thou 'rt three-piled piece. Shak.
2. Fig.: Extravagant; exaggerated; high-flown. " Three-piled hyperboles."
Shak.
3. Accustomed to wearing three-pile; hence, of high rank, or wealth. [Obs.] " Three-piled people."
Beau. & Fl.
Three-ply <Xpage=1502>
Three"-ply` (?) , a. Consisting of three distinct webs inwrought together in weaving, as cloth or carpeting; having three strands; threefold.
Three-pointed <Xpage=1502>
Three"-point`ed (?) , a. (Bot.) Having three acute or setigerous points; tricuspidate.
Three-quarter <Xpage=1502>
Three"-quar`ter (?) , a. (Paint.) Measuring thirty inches by twenty-five; -- said of portraitures.
Three-quarter length , a portrait showing the figure to the hips only.
Three-score <Xpage=1502>
Three"-score` (?) , a. Thrice twenty; sixty.
Three-sided <Xpage=1502>
Three"-sid`ed (?) , a. Having three sides, especially three plane sides; as, a three-sided stem, leaf, petiole, peduncle, scape, or pericarp .
Three-square <Xpage=1502>
Three"-square` (?) , a. Having a cross section in the form of an equilateral triangle; -- said especially of a kind of file.
Three-valved <Xpage=1502>
Three"-valved` (?) , a. Consisting of, or having, three valves; opening with three valves; as, a three-valved pericarp .
Three-way <Xpage=1502>
Three"-way` (?) , a. Connected with, or serving to connect, three channels or pipes; as, a three-way cock or valve .
Threne <Xpage=1502>
Threne (?) , n. [L. threnus , Gr. <?/. Cf. Drone .] Lamentation; threnody; a dirge.
Shak.
The threns . . . of the prophet Jeremiah. Jer. Taylor.
Threnetic, Threnetical <Xpage=1502>
Thre*net"ic (?) , Thre*net"ic*al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/. See Threne .] Pertaining to a threne; sorrowful; mournful.
Threnode <Xpage=1502>
Thren"ode (?) , n. A threne, or threnody; a dirge; a funeral song.
Threnodist <Xpage=1502>
Thren"o*dist (?) , n. One who composes, delivers, or utters, a threnode, or threnody.
Threnody <Xpage=1502>
Thren"o*dy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/ a dirge + <?/ a song. See Threne , and Ode .] A song of lamentation; a threnode.
Sir T. Herbert.
Threpe <Xpage=1502>
Threpe (?) , v. t. [See Threap .] To call; to term. [Obs.] "Luna silver we threpe ."
Chaucer.
Threpsology <Xpage=1502>
Threp*sol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ nourishment + -logy .] (Med.) The doctrine of nutrition; a treatise on nutrition.
Thresh <Xpage=1502>
Thresh (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Threshed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Threshing .] Same as Thrash .
He would thresh , and thereto dike and delve. Chaucer.
Thresher <Xpage=1502>
Thresh"er (?) , n. Same as Thrasher .
Thresh-fold <Xpage=1502>
Thresh"-fold` (?) , n. Threshold. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Threshold <Xpage=1502>
Thresh"old (?) , n. [OE. threswold , þreshwold , AS. þrescwald , þerscwald , þerscold , þrescold , fr. þrescan , þerscan , to thresh; akin to Icel. þreskj\'94de , þr\'94skuldr , Sw. tr\'94skel , Dan. t\'91rskel . See Thrash .] 1. The plank, stone, or piece of timber, which lies under a door, especially of a dwelling house, church, temple, or the like; the doorsill; hence, entrance; gate; door.
2. Fig.: The place or point of entering or beginning, entrance; outset; as, the threshold of life .
Threshwold <Xpage=1502>
Thresh"wold` (?) , n. Threshold. [Obs.]
Threste <Xpage=1502>
Threste (?) , v. t. [ imp. Threste ; p. p. & Threst .] To thrust. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Thretteen <Xpage=1502>
Thret"teen` (?) , a. Thirteen. [Obs. or Scot.]
Thretty <Xpage=1502>
Thret"ty (?) , a. Thirty. [Obs. or Scot.]
Burns.
Threw <Xpage=1502>
Threw (?) , imp. of Throw .
Thribble <Xpage=1502>
Thrib"ble (?) , a. Triple; treble; threefold. [Prov. Eng. or Colloq.]
Halliwell.
Thrice <Xpage=1502>
Thrice (?) , adv. [OE. thries ; thrie thrice (AS. <?/riga , <?/riwa ) + -s , the adverbal suffix. See Three , and -wards .] 1. Three times. " Thrice in vain."
Spenser.
Verily I say unto thee. That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice . Matt. xxvi. 34.
2. In a threefold manner or degree; repeatedly; very.
Thrice noble lord, let me entreat of you To pardon me. Shak.
Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just. Shak.
&hand; Thrice is often used, generally with an intensive force, to form compounds which are usually of obvious meaning; as, in thrice -blessed, thrice -favored, thrice -hallowed, thrice -happy, thrice -told, and the like.
Thricecock <Xpage=1502>
Thrice"cock` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The missel thrush. [Prov. Eng.]
Thrid <Xpage=1502>
Thrid (?) , a. Third. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Thrid <Xpage=1502>
Thrid , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Thridded ; p. pr. & vb. n. Thridding .] [A variant of thread .] 1. To pass through in the manner of a thread or a needle; to make or find a course through; to thread.
Some thrid the mazy ringlets of her hair. Pope.
And now he thrids the bramble bush. J. R. Drake.
I began To thrid the musky-circled mazes. Tennyson.
2. To make or effect (a way or course) through something; as, to thrid one's way through a wood .
Thrid <Xpage=1502>
Thrid , n. Thread; continuous line. [Archaic]
I resume the thrid of my discourse. Dryden.
Thrifallow <Xpage=1502>
Thri"fal`low (?) , v. t. See Thryfallow , and Trifallow . [R.]
Tusser.
Thrift <Xpage=1502>
Thrift (?) , n. [Icel. <?/rift . See Thrive .] 1. A thriving state; good husbandry; economical management in regard to property; frugality.
The rest, . . . willing to fall to thrift , prove very good husbands. Spenser.
2. Success and advance in the acquisition of property; increase of worldly goods; gain; prosperity. "Your thrift is gone full clean."
Chaucer.
I have a mind presages me such thrift . Shak.
3. Vigorous growth, as of a plant.
4. (Bot.) One of several species of flowering plants of the genera Statice and Armeria .
Common thrift (Bot.) , Armeria vulgaris ; -- also called sea pink .
Syn. -- Frugality; economy; prosperity; gain; profit.
<page="1503"> Page 1503
Thriftity <Xpage=1503>
Thrift"i*ty (?) , adv. 1. In a thrifty manner.
2. Carefully; properly; becomingly. [Obs.]
A young clerk . . . in Latin thriftily them gret [greeted]. Chaucer.
Thriftiness <Xpage=1503>
Thrift"i*ness , n. The quality or state of being thrifty; thrift.
Thriftless <Xpage=1503>
Thrift"less , a. Without thrift; not prudent or prosperous in money affairs. -- Thrift"less*ly , adv. -- Thrift"less*ness , n.
Thrifty <Xpage=1503>
Thrift"y (?) , a. [ Compar. Thriftier (?) ; superl. Thriftiest .] 1. Given to, or evincing, thrift; characterized by economy and good menegement of property; sparing; frugal.
Her chaffer was so thrifty and so new. Chaucer.
I am glad he hath so much youth and vigor left, of which he hath not been thrifty . Swift.
2. Thriving by industry and frugality; prosperous in the acquisition of worldly goods; increasing in wealth; as, a thrifty farmer or mechanic .
3. Growing rapidly or vigorously; thriving; as, a thrifty plant or colt .
4. Secured by thrift; well husbanded. [R.]
I have five hundred crowns, The thrifty hire I saved under your father. Shak.
5. Well appearing; looking or being in good condition; becoming. [Obs.]
I sit at home, I have no thrifty cloth. Chaucer.
Syn. -- Frugal; sparing; economical; saving; careful.
Thrill <Xpage=1503>
Thrill (?) , n. [See Trill .] A warbling; a trill.
Thrill <Xpage=1503>
Thrill , n. [AS. <?/yrel an aperture. See Thrill , v. t. ] A breathing place or hole; a nostril, as of a bird.
Thrill <Xpage=1503>
Thrill , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Thrilled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Thrilling .] [OE. thrillen , <?/irlen , <?/urlen , to pierce; all probably fr. AS. <?/yrlian , <?/yrelian , Fr. <?/yrel pierced; as a noun, a hole, fr. <?/urh through; probably akin to D. drillen to drill, to bore. \'fb53. See Through , and cf. Drill to bore, Nostril , Trill to trickle.] 1. To perforate by a pointed instrument; to bore; to transfix; to drill. [Obs.]
He pierced through his chafed chest With thrilling point of deadly iron brand. Spenser.
2. Hence, to affect, as if by something that pierces or pricks; to cause to have a shivering, throbbing, tingling, or exquisite sensation; to pierce; to penetrate.
To bathe in flery floods, or to reside In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice. Shak.
Vivid and picturesque turns of expression which thrill the <?/eader with sudden delight. M. Arnold.
The cruel word her tender heart so thrilled , That sudden cold did run through every vein. Spenser.
3. To hurl; to throw; to cast. [Obs.]
I'll thrill my javelin. Heywood.
Thrill <Xpage=1503>
Thrill , v. i. 1. To pierce, as something sharp; to penetrate; especially, to cause a tingling sensation that runs through the system with a slight shivering; as, a sharp sound thrills through the whole frame .
I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins. Shak.
2. To feel a sharp, shivering, tingling, or exquisite sensation, running through the body.
To seek sweet safety out In vaults and prisons, and to thrill and shake. Shak.
Thrill <Xpage=1503>
Thrill , n. 1. A drill. See 3d Drill , 1.
2. A sensation as of being thrilled; a tremulous excitement; as, a thrill of horror; a thrill of joy .
Burns.
Thrillant <Xpage=1503>
Thrill"ant (?) , a. Piercing; sharp; thrilling. [Obs.] "His thrillant spear."
Spenser.
Thrilling <Xpage=1503>