trespass English · revision 980

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtɹɛspæs/, /ˈtɹæspæs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|trespassen]], [[bor|fro|trespasser|t=to pass beyond or across; to violate]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[af|fro|tres-|passer|t1=beyond, across|t2=to pass]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) the prefix from [[la|trāns|t=across]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A transgression, offence or sin (c. 1290);^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as a verb, “to transgress, to sin” (1303).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The religious sense survives in the Lord's Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses”.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) In law the word meant any violation not amounting to felony (c. 1290),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and then an actionable wrong against a person or property.^(OED 1989) The specific sense of wrongful entry on another's land dates from about 1455,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) first in the forest laws.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) From 1652 the verb is used figuratively for intruding on someone's time or patience.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – a sin or offence; in law, a violation.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1303 – verb, to sin.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1455 – wrongful entry onto land.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1652 – verb, to intrude on someone's time or patience.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1769 – noun, an encroachment.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To enter another's land or property without right; also, to commit any unlawful injury to another's person, property or rights.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To intrude on someone's privacy, time or attention, often with ''on'' or ''upon''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To commit an offence or [[sin]]; to [[transgress]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # The act of trespassing; especially, a wrongful entry onto another's land.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(law)'' An action brought for trespassing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # An intrusion or infringement.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A transgression of a moral or social law; a sin.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[trespasser]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[traipse]]

+ * [[transgress]]

+ * [[pass]]

+ * [[encroach]]

+ * [[infringe]]

+ * [[intrude]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House distinguishes ''trespass'', passing unlawfully onto another's property, from ''[[encroach]]'', creeping gradually and often stealthily on territory or rights, ''[[infringe]]'', breaking in on rights by violating them, and ''[[intrude]]'', thrusting oneself in where one is not welcome.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}