v.
Pronunciation: ə - ' fend
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French offendre, from Latin offendere to strike against, offend, from ob- against + -fendere to strike ― more at OB- , DEFEND
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1 a : to transgress the moral or divine law : SIN <if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offend ing soul alive ― Shakespeare> b : to violate a law or rule : do wrong < offend against the law>
2 a : to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury <took off his shoe and removed the offend ing pebble> b : to cause dislike, anger, or vexation <thoughtless words that offend needlessly>
transitive verb
1 a : VIOLATE , TRANSGRESS b : to cause pain to : HURT
2 obsolete : to cause to sin or fall
3 : to cause to feel vexation or resentment usually by violation of what is proper or fitting <was offend ed by their language>
– of · fend · er noun
synonyms OFFEND , OUTRAGE , AFFRONT , INSULT mean to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment. OFFEND need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting <hoped that my remarks had not offended her>. OUTRAGE implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings < outraged by their accusations>. AFFRONT implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy <deeply affronted by his callousness>. INSULT suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame < insulted every guest at the party>.