See Also: offence(dictionary)
offence(dictionary)
Either-way Offence(law)
statutory offence(dictionary)
OFFENCE, crimes(law)
Summary Offence(law)

offence (iou)



offence noun. Also *offense. LME.
[Old & mod. French offens from Latin offensus annoyance, and Old & mod. French offense from Latin offensa striking against something, hurt, wrong, displeasure, both Latin forms from offens- pa. ppl stem of offendere OFFEND verb.]
In biblical use: striking the foot against something; stumbling. rare. LME-E17.
A stumbling-block; a cause of spiritual or moral stumbling; an occasion of unbelief, doubt, or apostasy. arch. LME.
The action of attacking or taking the offensive; attack, assault, aggressive action. LME.
b. Sports & Games. The attacking team or players, the attack. N. Amer. E20.
Hurt, harm, injury, damage, pain, (inflicted or felt). LME-E18.
The act or fact of offending, wounding the feelings of, or displeasing another; offended or wounded feeling; displeasure, annoyance, resentment; umbrage. LME.
give offence (to) offend, displease. no offence colloq. no offence is meant, or taken. take offence be offended, feel resentment, take umbrage, (at). without offence without giving, or taking, offence.
b. Disfavour, disgrace. rare. LME-E17.
a. The fact of being annoying, unpleasant, or repulsive; offensiveness. LME-M17.
b. A cause of annoyance or disgust; an offensive person or thing; a nuisance. Long rare. LME.
A. G. Gardiner The over-dressed man..is an offence.
A breach of law, rules, duty, propriety, or etiquette; an illegal act, a transgression, a sin, a wrong, a misdemeanour, a misdeed; a fault. LME.
summary offence: see SUMMARY adjective 1c.
G. Gorer Those..imprisoned for civil offences..are full of resentment. A. Haley She committed the unthinkable offense of raising her voice to her husband. A. Clare Offences ranging from..petty theft..to breaking and entering.
offenceful adjective (rare) full of offence, sinful E17.
offenceless adjective without offence; unoffending, inoffensive; incapable of offence or attack: E17.
offencelessly adverb without offence M17.