transgress

English

Etymology

From Middle English transgressen, from Old French transgresser and Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredior.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɹænzˈɡɹɛs/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛs

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.
   • 1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:

     surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law

   • 2006, Matt Wray, Not Quite White, page 17:

     They sometimes transgressed colonial boundaries, forming border communities with Native Americans and escaped black slaves.

2. (transitive) To act in violation of some law.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     For man will hearken to his glozing lies,
     And easily transgress the sole command.

   • 2024, David Golinkin, “Is Mixed Dancing Really Forbidden At Weddings?”, in Responsa in a Moment, volume 4, page 240:

     There were some young men who transgressed the ḥerem and danced with foreign women [i.e. non-relatives] and forbidden women.

3. (intransitive, construed with against) To commit an offense; to sin.
   • c. 1608–1611, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Maid’s Tragedy”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

     Why give you peace to this untemperate beast
     That hath so long transgressed you?

4. (intransitive, of the sea) To spread over land along a shoreline; to inundate.

Synonyms

• (to exceed or overstep): forpass, surpass, transcend; see also Thesaurus:transcend

Related terms

• transgressible
• transgression
• transgressive
• transgressor

Translations

to exceed or overstep some limit or boundary

Bulgarian: престъпвам (bg) (prestǎpvam) Egyptian: (thj) French: franchir (fr), transgresser (fr) Ngazidja Comorian: ushilia, ushia Norwegian: Bokmål: overskride (no), overtre Swedish: överträda (sv), överskrida (sv) Tamil: மீறு (ta) (mīṟu)

to act in violation of some law

Bulgarian: нарушавам (bg) (narušavam) Czech: přestoupit (cs) French: transgresser (fr) Italian: trasgredire (it) Maori: takahi Portuguese: transgredir (pt) Romanian: greși (ro) Russian: преступа́ть (ru) (prestupátʹ) Scottish Gaelic: peacaich Spanish: transgredir (es) Swedish: äverträda Tamil: மீறு (ta) (mīṟu)

to commit an offense, to sin

Bulgarian: прегрешавам (pregrešavam) Egyptian: (thj) French: pécher (fr) Gothic: 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐍅𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌺𐌾𐌰𐌽 (frawaurkjan) Irish: ciontaigh Latin: praevaricō Maori: hara