noun
or of·fence əˈfen(t)s, ˈȯˌf-, ˈäˌf-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin offensa, from feminine of offensus, past participle of offendere to offend — more at offend
1.
a. obsolete : act of stumbling
for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel — Isa 8:14 (Authorized Version)
b. archaic : a cause or occasion of sin : stumbling block
woe unto the world because of offenses — Mt 18:7 (Authorized Version)
2. obsolete : disfavor , disgrace
3. archaic : injury , damage
4. : something that outrages the moral or physical senses : nuisance
offense to the public conscience
such chord successions are an offense to the ear
5.
a. : the act of attacking : attack , assault
weapons of offense
b. : the means or method of attacking or of attempting to score
c. : the offensive team or members of a team playing offensive positions
d. : scoring ability
6.
a. : the act of displeasing, affronting, or angering
no offense intended and none taken, I hope
his words have given great offense at court
b. : the state of being displeased, insulted, or morally outraged
likely to take offense at the least word of criticism
7.
a. : a breach of moral or social conduct : sin , transgression , misdeed
tolerant of his youthful offenses
b. : an infraction of law : crime , misdemeanor
nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy — U.S. Constitution
sometimes : a misdemeanor not indictable but subject to summary punishment
a record of petty offenses
Synonyms:
resentment , umbrage , pique , dudgeon , huff : offense (or offence ), commonly as the object of give or take, refers to the hurt displeasure one feels at a slight, insult, or indignity
some demon of contradiction impelled her to find a point of offense everywhere — Ellen Glasgow
could say things that from anyone else would sound outrageous, but he phrased them so amusingly, and was so lacking in malice, that he never gave offense — V.G.Heiser
this tiny breath of genuine criticism had given deep offense — E.M.Forster
resentment may apply to a feeling longer lasting, deeper, and marked by more indignation and smoldering ill will than offense
actuated in great measure by resentment at not having received leave of absence to visit his dying wife, he made very serious charges against the personal character of his commandant — Edward Breck
requited their hospitality by robbing them of much of their supplies. So fierce was their resentment that Hudson was forced to put from shore — American Guide Series: Maine
umbrage , chiefly in the phrase to take umbrage, may suggest blended hurt pride, jealousy, suspicion of another's motives, and ill will
a man took umbrage at being called a certain kind of fool — W.F.Hambly
although the rector was not inclined to take umbrage at the treatment they had received, he showed … that he was quite aware that it was not what might have been considered due to them — Archibald Marshall
pique applies to the roiled displeasure of one taking offense or irritation at a petty cause that wounds vanity or shakes composure
a ridiculous sense of pique at being left out, like a child shut out from a room in which a vitally interesting game is being played — H.G.Wells
fits of jealous pique when one or the other rated special questioning — Newsweek
dudgeon , usually used with in, suggests an irate fit of indignation
this offended Mr. Barrow, who retired in dudgeon to the remotest part of the field — Dorothy Sayers
sometimes the employer, flanked by his lawyer, will in a dudgeon refuse to sit in the same room with the union representatives — Dorothy Bromley
huff , also usually used with in, suggests a peevish or petulant fit of anger, often short-lived, at some petty cause
at the first hint that we were tired of waiting and that we should like the show to begin, he was off in a huff — Henry James †1916
read the letter, flew into a rage, and left the country in a huff — Virginia Woolf