Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. --Rom. iv. 25. I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. --Dryden. 2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure. He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. --Sir P. Sidney. 3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [Obs.] Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! --Matt. xviii. 7. 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. {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. Syn: Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult.