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Webster 1913 Edition


Transgress

Trans-gress′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Transgressed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Transgressing
.]
[Cf. F.
transgresser
. See
Transgression
.]
1.
To pass over or beyond; to surpass.
[R.]
Surpassing common faith,
transgressing
nature’s law.
Dryden.
2.
Hence, to overpass, as any prescribed as the [GREEK]imit of duty; to break or violate, as a law, civil or moral.
For man will hearken to his glozing lies,
And easily
transgress
the sole command.
Milton.
3.
To offend against; to vex.
[Obs.]
Why give you peace to this imperate beast
That hath so long
transgressed
you ?
Beau. & Fl.

Trans-gress′

,
Verb.
I.
To offend against the law; to sin.
Who
transgressed
in the thing accursed.
I Chron. ii. 7.

Webster 1828 Edition


Transgress

TRANSGRESS'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. transgressus, transgredior; trans and gradior, to pass.]
1.
To pass over or beyond any limit; to surpass.
2.
In a moral sense, to overpass any rule prescribed as the limit of duty; to break or violate a law, civil or moral. To transgress a divine law, is sin. Legislators should not transgress laws of their own making.

TRANSGRESS'

,
Verb.
I.
To offend by violating a law; to sin.
Chron 2.

Definition 2024


transgress

transgress

English

Verb

transgress (third-person singular simple present transgresses, present participle transgressing, simple past and past participle transgressed)

  1. (transitive) To exceed or overstep some limit or boundary.
    • Dryden
      surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law
  2. (transitive) To act in violation of some law.
    • Milton
      For man will hearken to his glozing lies, / And easily transgress the sole command.
  3. (intransitive, construed with against) To commit an offense; to sin.
    • Beaumont and Fletcher
      Why give you peace to this imperate beast / That hath so long transgressed you?
  4. (intransitive, of the sea) To spread over land along a shoreline; to inundate.

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