trespass

I. noun Etymology: Middle English trespas, from Anglo-French, passage, overstepping, misdeed, from trespasser Date: 13th century 1. a. a violation of moral or social ethics ; transgression; especially sin b. an unwarranted infringement 2. a. an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another; especially a wrongful entry on real property b. the legal action for injuries resulting from trespass II. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French trespasser to overtake, exceed, wrong, from tres to a high degree (from Latin trans beyond) + passer to pass — more at through, pass Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. a. err, sin b. to make an unwarranted or uninvited incursion 2. to commit a trespass; especially to enter unlawfully upon the land of another transitive verb violate <

trespass the bounds of good taste

> • trespasser noun Synonyms: trespass, encroach, infringe, invade mean to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another. trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion <

hunters trespassing on farmland

>. encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions <

the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples

>. infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative <

infringing a copyright

>. invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another <

accused of invading their privacy

>.