transgress

trans·gress

verb \tran(t)s-ˈgres, tranz-\

Definition of TRANSGRESS

intransitive verb

1

: to violate a command or law : sin

2

: to go beyond a boundary or limit

transitive verb

1

: to go beyond limits set or prescribed by : violate <transgress divine law>

2

: to pass beyond or go over (a limit or boundary)

— trans·gres·sive \-ˈgre-siv\ adjective

— trans·gres·sor \-ˈgre-sər\ noun

Examples of TRANSGRESS

1. He who transgresses must seek forgiveness.
2. There are legal consequences for companies that transgress the rules.

Origin of TRANSGRESS

Middle English, from Middle French transgresser, from Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredi to step beyond or across, from trans- + gradi to step — more at grade

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to TRANSGRESS

Synonyms

err, fall, sin, stray, offend, trespass, wander

Antonyms

comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe

Related Words

breach, break, infringe, violate; backslide, lapse; mess up

Near Antonyms

forgive, justify, pardon; regret, repent, rue

Rhymes with TRANSGRESS

abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress