Offend

v. t. [imp. & p. p. OFFENDED; p. pr. & vb. n. OFFENDING.] [Lat. offendere, offensum, from prefix ob and fendere, to thrust, dash; It. offendere, Sp. ofender, Pg. offender, O. Fr. offendre, N. Fr. offenser, Pr. offendre.]

1Sense 1. To strike against; to attack; to assail. [Obs.] He was fain to defend himself, and, withal, so to offend him that by an unlucky blow the poor Philoxenus fell dead at his feet. Sidney.

2Sense 2. To displease; to make angry; to affront. The emperor was grievously offended with them who had kept such negligent watch. Knolles.

3Sense 3. To shock; to wound; to pain; to annoy; injure; as, strong light offends the eye; to offend the conscience. Law.

4Sense 4. To transgress; to violate; as, to offend the laws. [Rare.]

5Sense 5. To disturb, annoy, or cause to fall or stumble. Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Ps. cxix. 165.

6Sense 6. To draw to evil, or hinder in obedience; to cause to sin or neglect duty. If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out. . . . And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. Matt. v. 29, 30.

v. i. 1. To transgress the moral or divine law; to commit a crime; to sin.

Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James ii. 10.

2Sense 2. To cause dislike or anger.

I shall offend, either to detain or to give it. Shak.

3Sense 3. To be scandalized; to be made to stumble.

If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 1 Cor. viii. 13.

To offend against. (a.) To act injuriously or unjustly toward. “Nor yet against Cæsar have I offended any thing at all.” Acts xxv. 8. (b.) To commit an offense against. “We have offended against the Lord already.” 2 Chron. xxviii. 13.