{ } 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure; as, to cause offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense. [ PJC ]

5. (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal. [ PJC ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. incapable of offending or attacking; harmless.
Syn. -- offenseless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. 1. To transgress the moral or divine law; to commit a crime; to stumble; to sin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James ii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

If it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause dislike, anger, or vexation; to displease. [ 1913 Webster ]

I shall offend, either to detain or give it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To offend against, to do an injury or wrong to; to commit an offense against. “We have offended against the Lord already.” 2 Chron. xxviii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Offended; p. pr. & vb. n. Offending. ] [ OF. offendre, L. offendere, offensum; ob (see Ob-) + fendere (in comp.) to thrust, dash. See Defend. ] 1. To strike against; to attack; to assail. [ Obs. ] Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To displease; to make angry; to affront. [ 1913 Webster ]

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Prov. xviii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be offensive to; to harm; to pain; to annoy; as, strong light offends the eye; to offend the conscience. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To transgress; to violate; to sin against. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Marry, sir, he hath offended the law. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Script.) To oppose or obstruct in duty; to cause to stumble; to cause to sin or to fall. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Who hath you misboden or offended. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out . . . And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. Matt. v. 29, 3O. [ 1913 Webster ]

Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Ps. cxix. 165. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An offender. [ R. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who offends; one who violates any law, divine or human; a wrongdoer. [ 1913 Webster ]

I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. 1 Kings i. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A woman who offends. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Causing offense; displeasing; wrong; as, an offenseful act. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Unoffending; inoffensive.
Syn. -- offenceless. [ 1913 Webster ]