minatory

Also min·a·to·ri·al

[min-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. menacing; threatening.

minatory

/ ˈmɪnətərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. threatening or menacing

Other Word Forms

• minatorily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of minatory¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Late Latin minātōrius “threatening,” from mināt(us), past participle of minārī “to threaten” ( menace ) + -ōrius -ory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of minatory¹

C16: from Late Latin minātōrius, from Latin minārī to threaten

Example Sentences

But he's also a model of self-deceit that colors Rhys', the real Rhys, and the ultimate purpose served by the one we know with minatory tragedy.

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Vivian Fung’s “Birdsong” set the tone, moving from glassy impressionism to a diabolically twittering reel and slashing accents, a hike through a minatory forest.

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Since her father’s imprisonment, Minou handles the business, and she is in the shop when a mysterious envelope appears, addressed to her and bearing a terse, minatory message: “She knows that you live.”

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I have not looked at these in years, but I cannot forget their haunting strangeness, the unique quality of his writing to this day, a weird mix of classic English and minatory Japanese prose.

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Brexiters in the UK, imitating Tory tactics in London’s mayoral election, conjured up minatory visions of foreigners.

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