offend: [14] Latin offendere meant ‘strike against’. It was a compound verb formed from the prefix ob- ‘against’ and -fendere ‘hit’ (source also of English defend). Its literal sense survived into English (‘The navy is a great defence and surety of this realm in time of war, as well to offend as defend’ proclaimed an act of parliament of Henry VIII’s time), and continues to do so in the derivatives offence [14] and offensive [16], but as far as the verb is concerned only the metaphorical ‘hurt the feelings’ and ‘violate’ remain. => defend, fend
offend (v.)
early 14c., "to sin against (someone)," from Old French ofendre "transgress, antagonize," and directly from Latin offendere "to hit, strike against," figuratively "to stumble, commit a fault, displease, trespass against, provoke," from ob "against" (see ob-) + -fendere "to strike" (found only in compounds; see defend).
Meaning "to violate (a law), to make a moral false step, to commit a crime" is from late 14c. Meaning "to wound the feelings" is from late 14c. The literal sense of "to attack, assail" is attested from late 14c.; this has been lost in Modern English, but is preserved in offense and offensive. Related: Offended; offending.
双语例句
1. There can be little doubt that he will offend again.
毋庸置疑他还会再犯的。
来自柯林斯例句
2. I try to offend the least amount of people possible.
我尽量少得罪人。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Television censors are cutting out scenes which they claim may offend.
电视节目审查官正在剪掉他们称有可能会令人反感的一些镜头。
来自柯林斯例句
4. I wouldn't sunbathe topless if I thought I might offend anyone.
