verb (used with object)
- to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in: Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
- to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
- to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
- to hurt or cause pain to.
- (in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.
verb (used without object)
- to cause resentful displeasure; irritate, annoy, or anger: a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.
- to err in conduct; commit a sin, crime, or fault.
- to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)
- (tr) to be disagreeable to; disgustthe smell offended him
- (intr except in archaic uses) to break (a law or laws in general)
n.mid-15c., agent noun from offend (v.). Earlier was offendour (early 15c.), from Anglo-French. v.early 14c., “to sin against (someone),” from Old French ofendre “transgress, antagonize,” and directly from Latin offendere “to hit, strike against,” figuratively “to stumble, commit a fault, displease, trespass against, provoke,” from ob “against” (see ob-) + -fendere “to strike” (found only in compounds; see defend). Meaning “to violate (a law), to make a moral false step, to commit a crime” is from late 14c. Meaning “to wound the feelings” is from late 14c. The literal sense of “to attack, assail” is attested from late 14c.; this has been lost in Modern English, but is preserved in offense and offensive. Related: Offended; offending.