offence

views updated Jun 08 2018

offence, U.S. offense (arch.) stumbling, stumbling-block; attack; †harm, damage; act of offending; displeasure; breach of law or decorum. XIV. ME. offens(e) — (O)F. offens — L. offensus annoyance, and (O)F. offense — L. offensa striking against, hurt, wrong, displeasure; both L. forms f. offens-, pp. stem of offendere, whence (or from the deriv. OF. ofendre) offend †stumble; †wrong; †attack; wound the feelings of. XIV. See OF-, and cf. DEFEND.
So offensive pert. to attack; †injurious; repulsive. XVI. — F. offensif, -ive or medL.