{ } 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Rom. iv. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have given my opinion against the authority of two great men, but I hope without offense to their memories. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger; displeasure; as, to cause offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was content to give them just cause of offense, when they had power to make just revenge. Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matt. xviii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. In any contest, the act or process of attacking as contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as, to go on the offense. [ PJC ]

5. (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the opposing team from scoring goal. [ PJC ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Offense. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. incapable of offending or attacking; harmless.
Syn. -- offenseless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]