Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Trespass?

\Tres"pass\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Trespassed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trespassing}.] [{OF}. trespasser to go across or over, transgress, F. tr['e]passer to die; pref. tres- (L. trans across, over) + passer to pass. See {Pass}, v. i., and cf. {Transpass}.] 1. To pass beyond a limit or boundary; hence, to depart; to go. [Obs.] Soon after this, noble Robert de Bruce . . . trespassed out of this uncertain world. --Ld. Berners. 2. (Law) To commit a trespass; esp., to enter unlawfully upon the land of another. 3. To go too far; to put any one to inconvenience by demand or importunity; to intrude; as, to trespass upon the time or patience of another. 4. To commit any offense, or to do any act that injures or annoys another; to violate any rule of rectitude, to the injury of another; hence, in a moral sense, to transgress voluntarily any divine law or command; to violate any known rule of duty; to sin; -- often followed by against. In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. --2 Chron. xxviii. 22.
\Tres"pass\, n. [OF. trespas, F. tr['e]pas death. See {Trespass}, v.] 1. Any injury or offence done to another. I you forgive all wholly this trespass. --Chaucer. If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. --Matt. vi. 15. 2. Any voluntary transgression of the moral law; any violation of a known rule of duty; sin. The fatal trespass done by Eve. --Milton. You . . . who were dead in trespasses and sins. --Eph. if. 1. 3. (Law) (a) An unlawful act committed with force and violence (vi et armis) on the person, property, or relative rights of another. (b) An action for injuries accompanied with force. {Trespass offering} (Jewish Antiq.), an offering in expiation of a trespass. {Trespass on the case}. (Law) See {Action on the case}, under {Case}. Syn: Offense; breach; infringement; transgression; misdemeanor; misdeed.