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offensivemore about offensive

offensive


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Offensive  \Of*fen"sive\,  a.  [Cf.F.  offensif  See  {Offend}.] 
  1.  Giving  offense;  causing  displeasure  or  resentment; 
  displeasing;  annoying;  as  offensive  words 
 
  2.  Giving  pain  or  unpleasant  sensations;  disagreeable; 
  revolting;  noxious;  as  an  offensive  smell;  offensive 
  sounds.  ``Offensive  to  the  stomach.''  --Bacon. 
 
  3.  Making  the  first  attack;  assailant;  aggressive;  hence 
  used  in  attacking;  --  opposed  to  {defensive};  as  an 
  offensive  war;  offensive  weapons. 
 
  {League  offensive  and  defensive},  a  leaque  that  requires  all 
  the  parties  to  it  to  make  war  together  against  any  foe, 
  and  to  defend  one  another  if  attacked. 
 
  Syn:  Displeasing;  disagreeable;  distasteful;  obnoxious; 
  abhorrent;  disgusting;  impertinent;  rude;  saucy; 
  reproachful;  opprobrious;  insulting;  insolent;  abusive; 
  scurrilous;  assailant;  attacking;  invading.  -- 
  {Of*fen"sive*ly},  adv  --  {Of*fen"sive*ness},  n. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Offensive  \Of*fen"sive\,  n. 
  The  state  or  posture  of  one  who  offends  or  makes  attack; 
  aggressive  attitude;  the  act  of  the  attacking  party;  -- 
  opposed  to  {defensive}. 
 
  {To  act  on  the  offensive},  to  be  the  attacking  party. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  offensive 
  adj  1:  violating  or  tending  to  violate  or  offend  against; 
  "violative  of  the  principles  of  liberty";  "considered 
  such  depravity  offensive  against  all  laws  of  humanity" 
  [syn:  {violative}] 
  2:  for  the  purpose  of  attack  rather  than  defense;  "offensive 
  weapons"  [ant:  {defensive}] 
  3:  causing  anger  or  annoyance;  "offensive  remarks"  [ant:  {inoffensive}] 
  4:  morally  offensive;  "an  unsavory  reputation";  "an  unsavory 
  scandal"  [syn:  {unsavory},  {unsavoury}]  [ant:  {savory}] 
  5:  unpleasant  or  disgusting  especially  to  the  senses 
  "offensive  odors"  [ant:  {inoffensive}] 
  6:  of  an  offensive  substitute  for  inoffensive  terminology; 
  "`nigger'  is  a  dysphemistic  term  for  `African-American'" 
  [syn:  {dysphemistic}]  [ant:  {euphemistic}] 
  7:  causing  or  able  to  cause  nausea;  "a  nauseating  smell"; 
  "nauseous  offal";  "a  sickening  stench"  [syn:  {nauseating}, 
  {nauseous},  {noisome},  {loathsome},  {sickening},  {vile}] 
  n  :  the  action  of  attacking  the  enemy  [syn:  {offense},  {offence}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  OFFENSIVE,  adj  Generating  disagreeable  emotions  or  sensations,  as 
  the  advance  of  an  army  against  its  enemy. 
  "Were  the  enemy's  tactics  offensive?"  the  king  asked.  "I  should 
  say  so!"  replied  the  unsuccessful  general.  "The  blackguard  wouldn't 
  come  out  of  his  works!" 
 
 




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