trespass
noun
- legal concept
- act or process of intruding, taking advantage, overstepping, entering without permission
verb
- to intrude, take advantage, overstep, enter without permission
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈtɹɛspæs/ / /ˈtɹæspæs/ / /ˈtɹɛspəs/
noun
Etymology: Borrowed into Middle English trespas, from Old French trespas (“passage; offense against the law”), from trespasser.
- An intentional interference with another's property or person.
“External infrastructure issues such as severe weather and trespass caused 17.1% of [train] cancellations, [...].”
“Network Rail has produced a free downloadable comic highlighting the consequences of railway trespass. Between March 23 and April 26, there were 1,024 trespass incidents on the railway. [...] it is based on the company's award-winning safety film 18, which shows the dangers of trespass, especially around electrified lines.”
- sin
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”
verb
Etymology: From Middle English trespassen, borrowed from Old French trespasser (“to go across or over, transgress”), from tres- (“across, over”) + passer (“to pass”).
- To commit an offence; to sin.
“In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord.”
- To offend against, to wrong (someone).
“And forgeve us oure trespases, even as we forgeve them which trespas us.”
- To go too far; to put someone to inconvenience by demand or importunity; to intrude.
“to trespass upon the time or patience of another”
“"Indeed I have, sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness."”
- To enter someone else's property illegally.
- To pass beyond a limit or boundary; hence, to depart; to go.
“1523–1525, Jean Froissart, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Froissart's Chronicles Soon after this, noble Robert de Bruce […] trespassed out of this uncertain world.”
- To subject [someone] to a trespass notice, formally notifying them that they are prohibited from entry to a property, such that any current or future presence there will constitute trespass, (especially) criminal trespass
“The dean trespassed the streaker from his university.”
“A year ago a sheep-man was allowing his flocks to trespass on another public-domain licensee. At his third offense, after warnings, he was "trespassed" and given a fairly stiff fine and a warning that a fourth offense would cost him his grazing rights.”