🇮🇹Italian Source WordCode: IT

offendere

Pronunciation / Transliteration: /ofˈfɛn.de.re/

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Offend/əˈfɛnd/
verbCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #2500 frequency
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🇮🇹 Example Sentence in Italian:

"Spero di non averti offeso con le mie parole."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To cause to feel hurt, angry, or upset by rude or disrespectful behavior.

    "His insensitive remarks were likely to offend the members of the committee."
  2. 2

    To commit a crime or break a moral or legal law.

    "Programs are designed to help former prisoners ensure they do not re-offend."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'offendere', meaning 'to strike against, encounter, or displease', composed of 'ob-' (against) and 'fendere' (to strike). Entering Middle English in the 14th century via Old French 'offendre', the term historically evolved from a physical collision or transgression into a psychological sense of causing hurt, displeasure, or insult.

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