{ Offense, Offence } (?), n. [F., fr. L. offensa. See Offend.] 1. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin, an affront or an injury.
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Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25.
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I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden.
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2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure; as, to cause offense.
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He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney.
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3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [Obs.]
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Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7.
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4. In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense.
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5. (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal.
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&hand_; This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It ought, however, to undergo the same change with expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found in the Latin offensio, and the French offense.
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To take offense, to feel, or assume to be, injured or affronted; to become angry or hostile. -- Weapons of offense, those which are used in attack, in distinction from those of defense, which are used to repel.
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Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult.
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