Legal Definition and Related Resources of Threat

A declaration or display of intention to inflict punishment , loss or pain on another or his property by some unlawful act. The test of whether words or conduct are a Ôthreat turns on whether the communication in its context would have a reasonable tendency to create apprehension that its originator will act according to its tenor . See state v Porter, (Me.) 384 A.2d 429.

A menace brought to the knowledge of the one sought to be affected thereby. 84 Iowa 473; 51 N. W. 25. It may aflfect the life, character, or property of the person against whom it is made. It need not be in any particular form or phrase, but must be directly made. Any language which conveys with sufficient clearness to be understood the proposition that a charge will be made is enough. The threat may be bluntly spoken, or it may be thinly veiled in suggestive terms. 69 111. App. 399. Threats in themselves are not indictable or actionable, but if a threat is accompanied by appearance of present ability and intention to carry out the threat, it is an assault (1 Ired. [N.C.] 125) ; and, if made with the purpose of extorting money it is a misdemeanor at common law (1 Hawk. [P. C] c. 53, § 1). If business is interrupted, or freedom of locomotion is restrained, it is actionable. 27 Mich. 267.

noun

• alarm
• augury
• auspice
• commination
• danger
• denuntiatio
• foreboding
• fulmination
• hazard
• imminence
• impendence
• impendency
• insecurity
• intimidation
• jeopardy
• menace
• minae
• omen
• peril
• portent
• presage
• risk
• sign
• warning Associated Concepts: coercionforeign phrases: Non videtur consensum retinuisse si quis expraescripto minantis aliquid immutavit
• He does not appear to have retained consent
• who has changed anything at the command of a threatening party

Browse or run a search for Threat in the American Encyclopedia of Law, the Asian Encyclopedia of Law, the European Encyclopedia of Law, the UK Encyclopedia of Law or the Latin American and Spanish Encyclopedia of Law.

Threat in Historical Law

You might be interested in the historical meaning of this term. Browse or search for Threat in Historical Law in the Encyclopedia of Law.

Search for legal acronyms and/or abbreviations containing Threat in the Legal Abbreviations and Acronyms Dictionary.

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This definition of Threat is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This entry needs to be proofread.

Vocabularies (Semantic Web Information)

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Threat in Law Enforcement

Main Entry: Law Enforcement in the Legal Dictionary. This section provides, in the context of Law Enforcement, a partial definition of threat.

Resources

See Also

• Law Enforcement Officer
• Police
• Law Enforcement Agency

Further Reading

• threat in A Dictionary of Law Enforcement (Oxford University Press)
• threat in the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement
• A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis

Concept of Threat

In relation to securing dangerous material (in case of crisis or terrorism) a meaning of threat may be outlined, in general regarding European law, as follows: The likelihood of occurrence of a hazard or event with a harmful effect. In contrast to risk, a threat is not related to the impact it may cause. In the context of public health, a threat is defined as a substance, condition or event, which by its presence has the potential to rapidly harm an exposed population, sufficiently lead to a major crisis.[1]

Resources

Notes and References

1. Definition of threat published by the European Commission

Threat

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