Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin offensa, from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere
Pronunciation :
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. attack; (Sports) side that pursues (rather than defends); misdeed; insult; state of being offended; transgression (also offense). offence\of*fence"\ , n. see:
offense.offence n.
2. the action of attacking the enemy [syn: offense, offensive].
3. the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score [syn: offense] [ant: defense, defense].
4. a feeling of anger caused by being offended; "he took offence at my question" [syn: umbrage, offense].
5. a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others [syn: discourtesy, offense, offensive activity].
6. a crime less serious than a felony [syn: misdemeanor, misdemeanour, infraction, offense, violation, infringement]offence.
7. an injury or wrong done to one (1 sam. 25:31; rom. 5:15).
8. a stumbling-block or cause of temptation (isa. 8:14; matt. 16:23; 18:7). greek skandalon, properly that at which one stumbles or takes offence. the "offence of the cross" (gal. 5:11) is the offence the jews took at the teaching that salvation was by the crucified one, and by him alone. salvation by the cross was a stumbling-block to their national pride.
9. See Offense.
10. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury.
11. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure.
12. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin.
13. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. the action of attacking an enemy the team that has the ball and is trying to score.
14. The spelling offense is used in American English.
15. An offence is a crime that breaks a particular law and requires a particular punishment. Thirteen people have been charged with treason -- an offence which can carry the death penalty In Britain the Consumer Protection Act makes it a criminal offence to sell goods that are unsafe.
16. Offence or an offence is behaviour which causes people to be upset or embarrassed. The book might be published without creating offense Privilege determined by birth is an offence to any modern sense of justice.
17. formulae Some people say `no offence' to make it clear that they do not want to upset you, although what they are saying may seem rather rude. Dad, you need a bath. No offence.
18. If someone takes offence at something you say or do, they feel upset, often unnecessarily, because they think you are being rude to them. She never takes offence at anything Never had she seen him so tense, so quick to take offence as he had been in recent weeks.