Offence

Offence
Offense Of*fense", Offence Of*fence", n. [F., fr. L. offensa. See {Offend}.] 1. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury. [1913 Webster]

Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. --Rom. iv. 25. [1913 Webster]

I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure; as, to cause offense. [1913 Webster]

He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! --Matt. xviii. 7. [1913 Webster]

4. In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense. [PJC]

5. (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal. [PJC]

Note: This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense. [1913 Webster]

{To take offense}, to feel, or assume to be, injured or affronted; to become angry or hostile.

{Weapons of offense}, those which are used in attack, in distinction from those of defense, which are used to repel. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • offence — BrE usually offense AmE noun 1 (C) an illegal action or a crime: Driving while drunk is a serious offence. | a parking offense (+ against): sexual offences against children | commit an offence (=do something that is an offence) | first offence… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • offence — of‧fence [əˈfens] , offense noun 1. [countable] LAW an illegal action or a crime: • The company was not aware that it was committing an offence. • It is an offence to sell alco …   Financial and business terms

  • offence — var of offense Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. offence …   Law dictionary

  • Offence — Of*fence , n. See {Offense}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • offence — (n.) see OFFENSE (Cf. offense) …   Etymology dictionary

  • offence — (Brit.) of·fence || É™ fens n. attack; (Sports) side that pursues (rather than defends); misdeed; insult; state of being offended; transgression (also offense) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • offence — This is spelt ence in BrE, and offense in AmE …   Modern English usage

  • offence — (US offense) ► NOUN 1) an illegal act; a breach of a law or rule. 2) resentment or hurt. 3) the action of making a military attack. 4) N. Amer. the attacking team in a sport …   English terms dictionary

  • offence — [ə fens′] n. Brit. sp. of OFFENSE …   English World dictionary

  • offence — of|fence W3 BrE offense AmE [əˈfens] n 1.) an illegal action or a crime ▪ The possession of stolen property is a criminal offence. ▪ Punishment for a first offence is a fine. ▪ His solicitor said he committed the offence because he was heavily in …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • offence */*/*/ — UK [əˈfens] / US noun Word forms offence : singular offence plural offences 1) [countable] a crime or illegal activity for which there is a punishment motoring/firearms/public order offences criminal offence: Killing these animals is a criminal… …   English dictionary

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