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What is the difference between danger and threat?

danger | threat |

Threat is a synonym of danger.



As nouns the difference between danger and threat

is that danger is ability to harm; someone's dominion or power to harm or penalise. See In one's danger, below while threat is an expression of intent to injure or punish another.

As verbs the difference between danger and threat

is that danger is to claim liability while threat is to press; urge; compel.

danger

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) Ability to harm; someone's dominion or power to harm or penalise. See In one's danger, below.
  • "You stand within his danger , do you not?" (Shakespeare, ''Merchant of Venice'', 4:1:180)
  • * Robynson (More's Utopia)
  • Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in danger of this statute.
  • (obsolete) Liability.
  • * 1526 , Bible , tr. William Tyndale, Matthew V:
  • Thou shalt not kyll. Whosoever shall kyll, shalbe in daunger of iudgement.
  • (obsolete) Difficulty; sparingness.
  • (Chaucer)
  • (obsolete) Coyness; disdainful behavior.
  • (Chaucer)
  • (obsolete) A place where one is in the hands of the enemy.
  • Exposure to liable harm.
  • "Danger is a good teacher, and makes apt scholars" ((William Hazlitt), ''Table talk'').
  • An instance or cause of liable harm.
  • "Two territorial questions..unsettled..each of which was a positive danger to the peace of Europe" (''Times'', 5 Sept. 3/2).
  • Mischief.
  • "We put a Sting in him, / That at his will he may doe danger with" (Shakespeare, ''Julius Caesar'', 2:1:17).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * kicking in danger

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To claim liability.
  • (obsolete) To imperil; to endanger.
  • (obsolete) To run the risk.
  • References

    * Oxford English Dictionary

    Anagrams

    * ----

    threat

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), (m), (m), .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An expression of intent to injure or punish another.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats .
  • An indication of imminent danger.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katrina G. Claw
  • , title= Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction.}}
  • A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 2, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
  • , title= Bulgaria 0-3 England , passage=Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.}}

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) To press; urge; compel.
  • (archaic) To threaten.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.vii:
  • An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye
  • * 1599 , , V. i. 37:
  • O yes, and soundless too; / For you have stolen their buzzing, Antony, / And very wisely threat before you sting.
  • (label) To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten.