Offend — Of*fend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Offended}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Offending}.] [OF. offendre, L. offendere, offensum; ob (see {Ob }) + fendere (in comp.) to thrust, dash. See {Defend}.] 1. To strike against; to attack; to assail. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
offend — of‧fend [əˈfend] verb 1. [intransitive] LAW to do something that is a crime: • What can be done to stop criminals offending again? 2. [intransitive, transitive] to make someone angry or upset: • The advertisement was never intended to offend… … Financial and business terms
Offend — Of*fend , v. i. 1. To transgress the moral or divine law; to commit a crime; to stumble; to sin. [1913 Webster] Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James ii. 10. [1913 Webster] If it be a sin to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
offend — offend, outrage, affront, insult mean to cause vexation or resentment or damage to self respect. One offends by displeasing another, by hurting his feelings, or by violating his sense of what is proper or fitting {if the First Amendment means… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
offend — I (insult) verb abuse, affront, anger, annoy, be discourteous, be impolite, chagrin, displease, distress, disturb, embarrass, enrage, gall, horrify, hurt, incense, inflame, infuriate, injure, irk, irritate, laedere, madden, make angry, mortify,… … Law dictionary
offend — [ə fend′] vi. [ME offenden < OFr offendre < L offendere, to strike against < ob (see OB ) + fendere, to hit, strike: see DEFEND] 1. to break a law, religious commandment, etc.; commit a sin or crime 2. to create resentment, anger, or… … English World dictionary
offend — (v.) early 14c., to sin against (someone), from O.Fr. offendre, from L. offendere strike against, stumble, commit a fault, displease, from ob against + fendere to strike (found only in compounds). Meaning to violate (a law), to make a moral false … Etymology dictionary
offend — [v] displease, insult affront, aggrieve, anger, annoy, antagonize, be disagreeable, disgruntle, disgust, disoblige, distress, disturb, exasperate, fret, gall, horrify, hurt, irritate, jar, miff, nauseate, nettle, outrage, pain, pique, provoke,… … New thesaurus
offend — ► VERB 1) cause to feel hurt or resentful. 2) be displeasing to. 3) commit an act that is illegal or that goes against an accepted principle. DERIVATIVES offender noun. ORIGIN Latin offendere strike against … English terms dictionary
offend — verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French offendre, from Latin offendere to strike against, offend, from ob against + fendere to strike more at ob , defend Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. a. to transgress the moral or divine law ; … New Collegiate Dictionary
