4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Offence  \Of*fence"\,  n. 
  See  {Offense}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Offense  \Of*fense"\,  Offence  \Of*fence"\,  n.  [F.,  fr  L. 
  offensa.  See  {Offend}.] 
  1.  The  act  of  offending  in  any  sense  esp.,  a  crime  or  a  sin, 
  an  affront  or  an  injury. 
 
  Who  was  delivered  for  our  offenses,  and  was  raised 
  again  for  our  justification.  --Rom.  iv  25. 
 
  I  have  given  my  opinion  against  the  authority  of  two 
  great  men,  but  I  hope  without  offense  to  their 
  memories.  --Dryden. 
 
  2.  The  state  of  being  offended  or  displeased;  anger; 
  displeasure. 
 
  He  was  content  to  give  them  just  cause  of  offense, 
  when  they  had  power  to  make  just  revenge.  --Sir  P. 
  Sidney. 
 
  3.  A  cause  or  occasion  of  stumbling  or  of  sin.  [Obs.] 
 
  Woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offense  cometh!  --Matt. 
  xviii.  7. 
 
  Note:  This  word  like  expense,  is  often  spelled  with  a  c.  It 
  ought,  however,  to  undergo  the  same  change  with 
  expense,  the  reasons  being  the  same  namely,  that  s 
  must  be  used  in  offensive  as  in  expensive,  and  is  found 
  in  the  Latin  offensio,  and  the  French  offense. 
 
  {To  take  offense},  to  feel  or  assume  to  be  injured  or 
  affronted;  to  become  angry  or  hostile. 
 
  {Weapons  of  offense},  those  which  are  used  in  attack,  in 
  distinction  from  those  of  defense,  which  are  used  to 
  repel. 
 
  Syn:  Displeasure;  umbrage;  resentment;  misdeed;  misdemeanor; 
  trespass;  transgression;  delinquency;  fault;  sin;  crime; 
  affront;  indignity;  outrage;  insult. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  offence 
  n  1:  the  action  of  attacking  the  enemy  [syn:  {offense},  {offensive}] 
  2:  a  lack  of  politeness;  a  failure  to  show  regard  for  others 
  [syn:  {discourtesy},  {offense},  {offensive  activity}] 
  3:  a  crime  less  serious  than  a  felony  [syn:  {misdemeanor},  {misdemeanour}, 
  {infraction},  {offense},  {violation},  {infringement}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Offence 
  (1.)  An  injury  or  wrong  done  to  one  (1  Sam.  25:31;  Rom.  5:15). 
 
  (2.)  A  stumbling-block  or  cause  of  temptation  (Isa.  8:14; 
  Matt.  16:23;  18:7).  Greek  skandalon  properly  that  at  which  one 
  stumbles  or  takes  offence.  The  "offence  of  the  cross"  (Gal. 
  5:11)  is  the  offence  the  Jews  took  at  the  teaching  that 
  salvation  was  by  the  crucified  One  and  by  him  alone.  Salvation 
  by  the  cross  was  a  stumbling-block  to  their  national  pride. 
 

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