OFFEND', verb transitive [Latin offendo; of and fendo, obsolete to strike, hit, meet, or thrust against. We use the simple verb in fend, to fend off, to fence.]

1. To attack; to assail. [Not used.]

2. To displease; to make angry; to affront. It expresses rather less than make angry, and without any modifying word, it is nearly synonymous with displease. We are offended by rudeness, incivility and harsh language. Children offend their parents by disobedience, and parents offend their children by unreasonable austerity or restraint.

The emperor was grievously offended with them who had kept such negligent watch.

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city. Proverbs 18:19.

3. To shock; to wound; as, to offend the conscience.

4. To pain; to annoy; to injure; as, a strong light offends weak eyes.

5. To transgress; to violate; as, to offend the laws. But we generally use the intransitive verb in this sense, with against; to offend against the law.

6. To disturb, annoy, or cause to fall or stumble.

Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Psalms 119:165.

7. To draw to evil, or hinder in obedience; to cause to sin or neglect duty.

If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out - if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. Matthew 5:29.

OFFEND', verb intransitive

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

Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all. James 2:10.

In many things we offend all. James 3:2.

2. To cause dislike or anger.

I shall offend either to detain or to give it.

But this phrase is really elliptical, some person being understood.

3. To be scandalized; to be stumbled.

If meat make my brother to offend - 1 Corinthians 8:13.

1. To offend against, to act injuriously or unjustly.

Nor yet against Caesar have I offended any thing at all. Acts 25:11.

2. To transgress; to violate; as, to offend against the laws of society, the laws of God, or the rules of civility or propriety.

We have offended against the Lord already. 2 Chronicles 28:13.