offense English · revision 6665

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 14th century|origins=la offendo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈfɛns/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English offens, offence, [[bor|fro|ofense|t=offence, insult, wrong]] and directly [[bor|la|offensa|t=a striking against; an injury, affront]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) the noun use of the feminine past participle of [[m|la|offendo|alt=offendere|t=to strike against]] (see [[offend]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) NODE adds Old French offens, misdeed, from Latin offensus, annoyance.^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Hurt, harm or injury; a breach of the law or a sin; and the act of giving displeasure: the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably 1350–75 in Barnhart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Displeasure or annoyance, as in ''take offence'', is also from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) The action of attacking is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) and in sport the attacking team or side, chiefly American, is by 1894.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The adjective [[offensive]] meant used for attack in 1547–64 and annoying or insulting from 1576.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Offense'' is the American spelling and ''offence'' the British.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1350–75 – a wrong.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – harm; sin; displeasure.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1400 – attack.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1894 – in sport, the attacking side.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A breach of a law or rule; a [[crime]] or [[sin]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A feeling of hurt or annoyance; [[resentment]]: ''take offense''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Something that causes displeasure or outrage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of attacking.^(AHD)

+ # ''(US, sports)'' The team or players trying to score; the attacking side.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[offenseless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[offensive]]

+ * [[offend]]

+ * [[offender]]

+ * [[offence]]

+ * [[defense]]

+ * [[fend]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The AHD distinguishes ''offense'', the broadest term for a violation of a moral, social or legal code, from [[crime]], [[sin]] and [[error]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}