offend
//əˈfɛnd//
Forms
- present (v1)
- offend
- past (v2)
- offended
- past participle (v3)
- offended
- present participle
- offending
- 3rd person singular
- offends
Definitions
1.To hurt the feelings of; to displease; to make angry; to insult.
- Your accusations offend me deeply.
2.To physically harm, pain.
- Strong light offends the eye.
3.To annoy, cause discomfort or resent.
4.To feel or become offended; to take insult.
- Don't worry. I don't offend easily.
Frequency
Overall
Rare· #4529
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Rare
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle French offendre
From Latin offendō (“strike, blunder, commit an offense”)
From ob- (“against”) + *fendō (“strike”).