OFFENSE
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
Etymology
Noun
offense (countable and uncountable, plural offenses) (American spelling)
The act of offending
a crime or sin
an affront, insult or injury.
The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure.
(team sports) A strategy and tactics employed when in position to score; contrasted with defense.
(team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to scoring when in position to do so; contrasted with defense.
Synonyms
• See also offense
Antonyms
• defense (US), defence (Commonwealth)
Source: Wiktionary
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