I. ˈtres-pəs, -ˌpas noun
Etymology: Middle English trespas, from Anglo-French, passage, overstepping, misdeed, from trespasser
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : a violation of moral or social ethics : transgression ; especially : sin
b. : an unwarranted infringement
2.
a. : an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another ; especially : a wrongful entry on real property
b. : the legal action for injuries resulting from trespass
II. -ˌpas also -pəs verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French trespasser to overtake, exceed, wrong, from tres to a high degree (from Latin trans beyond) + passer to pass — more at through , pass
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : err , sin
b. : to make an unwarranted or uninvited incursion
2. : to commit a trespass ; especially : to enter unlawfully upon the land of another
transitive verb
: violate
trespass the bounds of good taste
• tres·pass·er noun
Synonyms:
trespass , encroach , infringe , invade mean to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another. trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion
hunters trespassing on farmland
encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions
the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples
infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative
infringing a copyright
invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another
accused of invading their privacy