trespass

[ tres-puhs, -pas ]

noun

1. Law.
   1. an unlawful act causing injury to the person, property, or rights of another, committed with force or violence, actual or implied.
   2. a wrongful entry upon the lands of another.
   3. the action to recover damages for such an injury.
2. an encroachment or intrusion.
3. an offense, sin, or wrong.

verb (used without object)

1. Law. to commit a trespass.
2. to encroach on a person's privacy, time, etc.; infringe (usually followed by on or upon ).
3. to commit a transgression or offense; transgress; offend; sin.

trespass

/ ˈtrɛspəs /

verb

1. often foll byon or upon to go or intrude (on the property, privacy, or preserves of another) with no right or permission
2. law to commit trespass, esp to enter wrongfully upon land belonging to another
3. archaic.
   often foll by against to sin or transgress

noun

1. law
   1. any unlawful act committed with force or violence, actual or implied, which causes injury to another person, his property, or his rights
   2. a wrongful entry upon another's land
   3. an action to recover damages for such injury or wrongful entry
2. an intrusion on another's privacy or preserves
3. a sin or offence

Derived Forms

• ˈtrespasser, noun

Other Words From

• trespass·er noun
• non·trespass noun
• un·trespassed adjective
• un·trespass·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trespass¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English trespas “transgression, offense,” from Old French, derivative of trespasser, equivalent to tres- (from Latin trāns- trans- ) + passer “to pass” ( pass ); (verb) Middle English trespassen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trespass¹

C13: from Old French trespas a passage, from trespasser to pass through, from tres- trans- + passer , ultimately from Latin passus a pace ¹

Synonym Study

Trespass , encroach , infringe , intrude imply overstepping boundaries and assuming possession of others' property or crowding onto the right of others. To trespass is to pass unlawfully within the boundaries of another's property: Hunters trespass on a farmer's fields. To encroach is to creep, gradually and often stealthily, upon territory, rights, or privileges, so that a footing is imperceptibly established: The sea slowly encroached upon the land. To infringe is to break in upon or invade rights, customs, or the like, by violating or disregarding them: to infringe upon a patent. To intrude is to thrust oneself into the presence of a person or into places or circumstances where one is not welcome: to intrude into a private conversation.

Example Sentences

Less than an hour later, the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office and district attorney told her attorneys they would not enforce the trespass warning.

From Washington Post

Ibrahim was not part of, affiliated with nor participatory in any trespass or violent acts and vehemently denounces them.

From Washington Post

When arrested, suspects would receive “suspension citations” in writing that include the reason for the action, the length of the ban, the date the ban begins and a notice that violators would face criminal trespass charges.

From Washington Post

For those who merely entered and then left the Capitol, “It’s a trespass!”

From Washington Post

Once the staff noticed the discrepancy with their birthdays listed on their driver’s licenses, the women, 44 and 34, were referred to deputies, who issued trespass warnings against them, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

From Washington Post

To do so would be an ethical trespass, and many would likely stop prescribing the drug altogether.

From The Daily Beast

When Palestinians allegedly trespass on public property in the West Bank, removing them becomes a pressing national priority.

From The Daily Beast

So much for that: Trespass, directed by Joel Schumacher, could very well be her corniest movie yet.

From The Daily Beast

But the trespass provisions were removed from the law before it was voted on by the Arizona legislature.

From The Daily Beast

If a person knocked me down and I sued him to recover for the injury, trespass would be the proper form of action.

From Project Gutenberg

In many states an action in tort instead of trespass is the proper remedy.

From Project Gutenberg

Why do people put up such signs as “Keep off,” “Do not trespass”?

From Project Gutenberg

They shall eat the victim both for sin and for trespass: and every vowed thing in Israel shall be theirs.

From Project Gutenberg

I am sorry to inform you that I shall be forced to trespass a few days beyond the precise term which I had fixed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• infraction
• misdemeanor