Adjacent Words

Trespass definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TRES'PASS, v.i. [L. trans, beyond, and passer, to pass.]
1. Literally, to pass beyond; hence primarily, to pass over the boundary line of another's land; to enter unlawfully upon the land of another. A man may trespass by walking over the ground of another, and the law gives a remedy for damages sustained.
2. To commit any offense or to do any act that injures or annoys another; to violate any rule of rectitude to the injury of another.
If any man shall trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him-- 1 Kings 8. See Luke
17:3. and 4.
3. In a moral sense, to transgress voluntarily any divine law or command; to violate any known rule of duty.
In the time of his disease did he trespass yet more. 2 Chronicles 28.
We have trespassed against our God. Ezra 10.
4. To intrude; to go too far; to put to inconvenience by demand or importunity; as, to trespass upon the time or patience of another.
TRES'PASS, n. In law, violation of another's rights, not amounting to treason, felony, or misprision of either. Thus to enter another's close, is a trespass; to attack his person is a trespass. When violence accompanies the act, it is called a trespass vi et armis.
1. Any injury or offense done to another.
If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6.
2. Any voluntary transgression of the moral law; any violation of a known rule of duty; sin. Colossians 2.
You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a wrongful interference with the possession of property (personal property as well as realty), or the action instituted to recover damages
2: entry to another's property without right or permission [syn: trespass, encroachment, violation, intrusion, usurpation] v
1: enter unlawfully on someone's property; "Don't trespass on my land!" [syn: trespass, intrude]
2: make excessive use of; "You are taking advantage of my good will!"; "She is trespassing upon my privacy" [syn: trespass, take advantage]
3: break the law
4: commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law [syn: sin, transgress, trespass]
5: pass beyond (limits or boundaries) [syn: transgress, trespass, overstep]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English trespas, from Anglo-French, passage, overstepping, misdeed, from trespasser Date: 13th century 1. a. a violation of moral or social ethics ; transgression; especially sin b. an unwarranted infringement 2. a. an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another; especially a wrongful entry on real property b. the legal action for injuries resulting from trespass II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French trespasser to overtake, exceed, wrong, from tres to a high degree (from Latin trans beyond) + passer to pass — more at through, pass Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. a. err, sin b. to make an unwarranted or uninvited incursion 2. to commit a trespass; especially to enter unlawfully upon the land of another transitive verb violate <trespass the bounds of good taste> • trespasser noun Synonyms: trespass, encroach, infringe, invade mean to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another. trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion <hunters trespassing on farmland>. encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions <the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples>. infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative <infringing a copyright>. invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another <accused of invading their privacy>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v.intr. 1 (usu. foll. by on, upon) make an unlawful or unwarrantable intrusion (esp. on land or property). 2 (foll. by on) make unwarrantable claims (shall not trespass on your hospitality). 3 (foll. by against) literary or archaic offend. --n. 1 Law a voluntary wrongful act against the person or property of another, esp. unlawful entry to a person's land or property. 2 archaic a sin or offence. Phrases and idioms: trespass on a person's preserves meddle in another person's affairs. Derivatives: trespasser n. Etymology: ME f. OF trespasser pass over, trespass, trespas (n.), f. med.L transpassare (as TRANS-, PASS(1))

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trespass Tres"pass, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Trespassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Trespassing.] [OF. trespasser to go across or over, transgress, F. tr['e]passer to die; pref. tres- (L. trans across, over) + passer to pass. See Pass, v. i., and cf. Transpass.] 1. To pass beyond a limit or boundary; hence, to depart; to go. [Obs.] Soon after this, noble Robert de Bruce . . . trespassed out of this uncertain world. --Ld. Berners. 2. (Law) To commit a trespass; esp., to enter unlawfully upon the land of another. 3. To go too far; to put any one to inconvenience by demand or importunity; to intrude; as, to trespass upon the time or patience of another. 4. To commit any offense, or to do any act that injures or annoys another; to violate any rule of rectitude, to the injury of another; hence, in a moral sense, to transgress voluntarily any divine law or command; to violate any known rule of duty; to sin; -- often followed by against. In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. --2 Chron. xxviii. 22.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Trespass Tres"pass, n. [OF. trespas, F. tr['e]pas death. See Trespass, v.] 1. Any injury or offence done to another. I you forgive all wholly this trespass. --Chaucer. If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. --Matt. vi. 15. 2. Any voluntary transgression of the moral law; any violation of a known rule of duty; sin. The fatal trespass done by Eve. --Milton. You . . . who were dead in trespasses and sins. --Eph. if. 1. 3. (Law) (a) An unlawful act committed with force and violence (vi et armis) on the person, property, or relative rights of another. (b) An action for injuries accompanied with force. Trespass offering (Jewish Antiq.), an offering in expiation of a trespass. Trespass on the case. (Law) See Action on the case, under Case. Syn: Offense; breach; infringement; transgression; misdemeanor; misdeed.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(trespasses, trespassing, trespassed) 1. If someone trespasses, they go onto someone else's land without their permission. They were trespassing on private property... You're trespassing! VERB: V prep, V • Trespass is the act of trespassing. You could be prosecuted for trespass. N-VAR • trespasser (trespassers) Trespassers will be prosecuted. N-COUNT 2. If you say that someone is trespassing on something, you mean that they are involving themselves in something that is not their concern. They were acting to prevent the state from trespassing on family matters such as sex education. VERB: V prep, also V

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

tres'-pas: To pass over, to go beyond one's right in place or act; to injure another; to do that which annoys or inconveniences another; any violation of law, civil or moral; it may relate to a person, a community, or the state, or to offenses against God. The Hebrew 'asham ("sin"), is used very frequently in the Old Testament when the trespass is a violation of law of which God is the author. The Greek word is paraptoma.

In the Old Testament an offering was demanded when the offense was against God: a female lamb; in other cases, according to the magnitude of the wrong, a ram or a goat; the offering was to be preceded by a confession by the one committing the trespass. If the trespass was against a human being, the wrong-doer must make it right with the person, and when reconciliation should have been effected, then the offering for sin was to be made. See under SACRIFICE, "Trespass Offering." If a person's property has been injured, then the trespasser shall add a fifth to the value of the property injured and give that to the injured party (Le 6:5). Zaccheus, wanting to make full restitution, went beyond the demands of the Law (Lu 19:1-9).

The New Testament teaching on the subject is, first to be reconciled to the brother and then offer, or worship (Mt 5:23,24). In all cases, also, the offended party must forgive if the offender shall say, "I repent" (Mt 6:14; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13). We have been alienated by our trespasses from God (Eph 2:1). It was the Father's good will to reconcile all to Himself through Christ (Col 1:20-22). We must be reconciled to God (2Co 5:20,21). This being done, our trespasses shall be forgiven and we shall be justified.

David Roberts Dungan

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. 1. Encroach, infringe, intrude, make inroad or invasion, trench, enter unlawfully. 2. Transgress, offend, sin, commit an offence. II. n. 1. Injury, infringement, encroachment, invasion. 2. Transgression, crime, fault, sin, misdeed, misdemeanor, offence, delinquency, error, wrong-doing.

Moby Thesaurus

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