transgress
English
Etymology
From Middle English transgressen, from Old French transgresser and Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredī.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /tɹænzˈɡɹɛs/
Audio (UK) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɛs
Verb
transgress (third-person singular simple present transgresses, present participle transgressing, simple past and past participle transgressed)
- (transitive) To exceed or overstep some limit or boundary.
- 1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
- surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law
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- (transitive) To act in violation of some law.
- 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
- For man will hearken to his glozing lies, / And easily transgress the sole command.
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- (intransitive, construed with against) To commit an offense; to sin.
- c. 1608–1611, Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher, “The Maid’s Tragedy”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- Why give you peace to this untemperate beast / That hath so long transgressed you?
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- (intransitive, of the sea) To spread over land along a shoreline; to inundate.
Synonyms
- (to exceed or overstep): forpass, surpass, transcend; see also Thesaurus:transcend
Related terms
Translations
to exceed or overstep some limit or boundary
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to act in violation of some law
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to commit an offense, to sin
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