v. Obs. exc. dial. [app. f. THREAP v. + -EN5; but, in sense 1, perh. for threaten.]
† 1. To threaten (trans. and intr.). Obs.
1340. Ayenb., 84. Naȝt ne habbeþ more of myȝte aye uirtues kueade mysfalles and zorȝes ne al þet fortune may þreapny and do: more þanne þer byeþ dropen of rayn ine þe ze. Ibid., 97. Ibid., 162. Hardyesse uor to þolie alle þe kueadnesse þet þe wordle may þreapni.
1559. Bercher, Nobylytye Wymen (1904), 128. Yf they be threpned [It. se sono minacciate] they langwyshe, yf they be cheryshed they be prowde.
2. To blame, rebuke, chide, reprove: = prec. 1.
a. 1667. Skinner, Etymologicon (1671), To Threap or Threapen, vox agro Linc. usitatissima, ab AS. Ðreaþian, Redarguere, vel Ðrafian, Urgere.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, Threap, Threapen, to blame, rebuke, reprove, chide.
1904. Eng. Dial. Dict. (E. Yorks), Threapen, to reprove, rebuke, chide.
Hence Threapening vbl. sb.
1340. Ayenb., 65. vij. oþre boȝes. Huer-of þe uerste is strif, þe oþer chidinge, þe þridde missigginge, Þe uerþe godelinge, þe uifte atwytinge, þe zixte þreapninge, þe zeuende vnonynge arere. Ibid., 66. Efterward zuo comeþ þe þreapnynges and beginneþ þe medles and þe werres.
