offensive English · revision 5167

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1547–64|origins=la-med offensivus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈfen.sɪv/; in sport also US /ˈɑː.fen.sɪv/, /ˈʌf.en.sɪv/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|offensif]] and directly from [[la-med|offēnsīvus]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from Latin offēns-, the past participle stem of offendere “to strike against”, the source of [[offend]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Used in attack, aggressive: 1547–64 in the OED, the 1540s in Etymonline, about 1555 in MWU.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Insulting, causing displeasure is from the 1570s (1576 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and disagreeable to the senses, as of smells, from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The noun, ''the offensive'', the position of attack, is from 1720, after French l'offensive.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The military sense, a major attack, is by 1918, from the First World War.^(Etymonline) In North American sport, relating to the team in possession of the ball, it is from 1912.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1547–64 – attacking.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – insulting.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1594 – unpleasant to the senses.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1720 – noun, ''the offensive''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1912 – in sport.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1918 – a military attack.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Likely to make people upset or [[angry]]; insulting.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Unpleasant to the senses: ''an offensive smell''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Used for attacking: ''offensive weapons''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(sports)'' Relating to the team that has the ball.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A military attack, or an organized campaign.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An attitude of attack: ''on the offensive''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[offensively]]

+ * [[offensiveness]]

+ * [[counteroffensive]]

+ * [[overoffensive]]

+ * [[superoffensive]]

+ * [[inoffensive]]

+ * [[nonoffensive]]

+ * [[unoffensive]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[offend]]

+ * [[offense]]

+ * [[offence]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Offensive, disgusting, loathsome, repulsive, revolting and vile all mean extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings, as in an offensive remark or a nasty smell.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}