offence
    n 1: the action of attacking an enemy [syn: offense,
         offence, offensive]
    2: the team that has the ball (or puck) and is trying to score
       [syn: offense, offence] [ant: defence, defending
       team, defense]
    3: a feeling of anger caused by being offended; "he took offence
       at my question" [syn: umbrage, offense, offence]
    4: a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others;
       wounding the feelings or others [syn: discourtesy,
       offense, offence, offensive activity]
    5: (criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered
       an evil act; "a long record of crimes" [syn: crime,
       offense, criminal offense, criminal offence, offence,
       law-breaking]

Offence \Of*fence"\, n.
   See Offense.
   [1913 Webster]

Offense \Of*fense"\, Offence \Of*fence"\, 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]

   Note: 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]

Offence
   (1.) An injury or wrong done to one (1 Sam. 25:31; Rom. 5:15).
   
     (2.) A stumbling-block or cause of temptation (Isa. 8:14;
   Matt. 16:23; 18:7). Greek skandalon, properly that at which one
   stumbles or takes offence. The "offence of the cross" (Gal.
   5:11) is the offence the Jews took at the teaching that
   salvation was by the crucified One, and by him alone. Salvation
   by the cross was a stumbling-block to their national pride.
   

OFFENCE, crimes. The doing that which a penal law forbids to be done, or 
omitting to do what it commands; in this sense it is nearly synonymous with 
crime. (q.v.) In a more confined sense, it may be considered as having the 
same meaning with misdemeanor, (q.v.) but it differs from it in this, that 
it is not indictable, but punishable summarily by the forfeiture of a 
penalty. 1 Chit. Prac. 14.