/ əˈfend; NAmE / verb
1.
[ often passive ] to make sb feel upset because of sth you say or do that is rude or embarrassing :
[ vn ]
They'll be offended if you don't go to their wedding.
Neil did not mean to offend anybody with his joke.
[ v ]
A TV interviewer must be careful not to offend.
2.
[ vn ] to seem unpleasant to sb :
The smell from the farm offended some people.
an ugly building that offends the eye
3.
[ v ] ( formal ) to commit a crime or crimes :
He started offending at the age of 16.
4.
[ v ] offend (against sb/sth) ( formal ) to be against what people believe is morally right :
comments that offend against people's religious beliefs
► of·fend·ed adjective :
Alice looked rather offended.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French offendre , from Latin offendere strike against.