OFFENCE
offense, offence
(noun) a transgression that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right
offense, offence, offensive
(noun) the action of attacking an enemy
discourtesy, offense, offence, offensive activity
(noun) a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
umbrage, offense, offence
(noun) a feeling of anger caused by being offended; “he took offence at my question”
offense, offence
(noun) the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
offence (countable and uncountable, plural offences)
British, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian standard spelling of offense.
Source: Wiktionary
Of*fence", n.
Definition: See Offense.
Of*fense", Of*fence", n. Etym: [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.
Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our
justification. Rom. iv. 25.
I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I
hope without offense to their memories. Dryden.
2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure.
He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had
power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney.
3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [Obs.]
Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7.
Note: 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. 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.
Syn.
– Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass;
transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity;
outrage; insult.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition