— trespasser , n.
/tres"peuhs, -pas/ , n.
1. Law.
a. an unlawful act causing injury to the person, property, or rights of another, committed with force or violence, actual or implied.
b. a wrongful entry upon the lands of another.
c. the action to recover damages for such an injury.
2. an encroachment or intrusion.
3. an offense, sin, or wrong.
v.i.
4. Law. to commit a trespass.
5. to encroach on a person's privacy, time, etc.; infringe (usually fol. by on or upon ).
6. to commit a transgression or offense; transgress; offend; sin.
[ 1250-1300; (n.) ME trespas transgression, offense trespasser, equiv. to tres- ( trans- TRANS-) + passer to PASS; (v.) ME trespassen, deriv. of the n. ]
Syn. 4, 5. TRESPASS, ENCROACH, INFRINGE, INTRUDE imply overstepping boundaries and assuming possession of others' property or crowding onto the right of others. To TRESPASS is to pass unlawfully within the boundaries of another's property: Hunters trespass on a farmer's fields. To ENCROACH is to creep, gradually and often stealthily, upon territory, rights, or privileges, so that a footing is imperceptibly established: The sea slowly encroached upon the land.
To INFRINGE is to break in upon or invade rights, customs, or the like, by violating or disregarding them: to infringe upon a patent. To INTRUDE is to thrust oneself into the presence of a person or into places or circumstances where one is not welcome: to intrude into a private conversation.