trespass

¹tres·pass

noun \ˈtres-pəs, -ˌpas\

Definition of TRESPASS

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

Examples of TRESPASS

1. He was arrested for trespass.
2. <forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us>

Origin of TRESPASS

Middle English trespas, from Anglo-French, passage, overstepping, misdeed, from trespasser

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TRESPASS

Synonyms

breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, sin, transgression, offense, violation, wrongdoing

Antonyms

noncrime

Related Words

bias crime, hate crime; felony, misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance; fault, foible, peccadillo; break, infringement; immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, sinfulness, vice, wickedness; corruption, debauchery, depravity, licentiousness; abuse, criminality, illegality, lawlessness, unlawfulness; descent, downfall, fall

Near Antonyms

blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocence, irreproachability; goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue, virtuousness

Rhymes with TRESPASS

admass, air mass, alas, Alsace, amass, art glass, avgas, badass, bagasse, beach grass, bear grass, bent grass, black bass, Black Mass, bluegrass, bromegrass, bunchgrass, bypass, cheatgrass, cordgrass, crabgrass, crevasse, cuirass, cut glass, cut-grass, declass, degas, drop pass, Drygas, eelgrass, en masse, eyeglass, first-class, flint glass, float glass, folk mass, ground glass, groundmass, hand glass, harass, hard-ass, haul ass, high-class, high mass, hourglass, impasse, jackass, jump pass, kelp bass, kick ass, kick-ass, knotgrass, landmass, lead glass, low mass, Madras, milk glass, morass, nut grass, oat grass, outclass, outgas, palliasse, pier glass, plate glass, quartz glass, red mass, repass, rest mass, ribgrass, rock bass, ryegrass, salt grass, sandglass, saw grass, screen pass, sea bass, sheet glass, smart-ass, South Pass, spot pass, spun glass, spyglass, stained glass, star grass, striped bass, subclass, sunglass, sung mass, surpass, sweetgrass, switchgrass, sword grass, teargas, third-class, Troas, turfgrass, wheatgrass, white bass, wineglass, wire grass, wiseass, witchgrass, word class, world-class, yard grass

²trespass

verb \-ˌpas also -pəs\

Definition of TRESPASS

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>

— tres·pass·er noun

Examples of TRESPASS

1. He told me I was trespassing.
2. The sign said “No Trespassing.”

Origin of TRESPASS

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TRESPASS

Synonyms

err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, offend, wander

Related Words

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

Near Antonyms

forgive, justify, pardon; regret, repent, rue

Synonym Discussion of TRESPASS

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>.

trespass

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In law, unlawful entry onto land. Trespass was formerly defined as wrongful conduct causing injury or loss; today it is generally confined to issues involving real property (see real and personal property). Once a trespass is proved, the trespasser is usually held liable for any damages resulting, regardless of whether the trespasser was negligent or the damage was foreseeable. Criminal trespass, trespass to property that is forbidden by statute, is punishable as a crime.