ähvardama

Estonian

Etymology

Uncertain. Possibly sound-symbolic with the suffix +‎ -rdama.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈæhvɑrd̥ɑmɑ/, [ˈæhvɑrd̥ɑmɑ]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɑmɑ
  • Hyphenation: äh‧var‧da‧ma

Verb

ähvardama (da-infinitive ähvardada) (transitive, usually atelic)

  1. to threaten (to express intention to harm sb, cause damage, discomfort, etc.) [with da-infinitive ‘to do sth’ or comitative ‘with’]
    „Tapan ära, kui sellest kellelegi räägid!” ähvardas mees.
    "I'll kill you if you tell anyone about it!" the man threatened.
    Sulane ähvardas keset suve ära minna.
    The farmhand threatened to leave in the middle of summer.
    Peetrit ähvardati vanglaga.
    Peter was threatened with prison.
    1. to promise to do sth
      On juba korduvalt ähvardanud pensionile jääda.
      He has repeatedly threatened to retire.
  2. to menace, to threaten (to be a threat to sb or sth, to put in danger)
    Jõeäärseid asulaid ähvardab üleujutus.
    Riverfront settlements are threatened by flooding.
    Ettevõtet ähvardab pankrot.
    The company is facing bankruptcy.
    Külalisi tuli aina juurde, nii et ruum ähvardas kitsaks jääda.
    More and more guests arrived, so that the room threatened to become crowded.

Conjugation

Derived terms

  • ähvardaja
  • ähvardavalt
  • ähvardus

References

  • ähvardama in Sõnaveeb (Eesti Keele Instituut)
  • ähvardama”, in [EKSS] Eesti keele seletav sõnaraamat [Descriptive Dictionary of the Estonian Language] (in Estonian) (online version), Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus (Estonian Language Foundation), 2009