CIDE DICTIONARY
offence,
n. [F., fr. L.
offensa. See
Offend.].
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.
Syn. -- Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor; trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime; affront; indignity; outrage; insult.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
offence, n. (US offense)
1 an illegal act; a transgression or misdemeanour.
2 a wounding of the feelings; resentment or umbrage (no offence was meant).
3 the act of attacking or taking the offensive; aggressive action.
give offence cause hurt feelings. take offence suffer hurt feelings.
offenceless adj.
orig. = stumbling, stumbling-block: ME & OF offens f. L offensus annoyance, and ME & F offense f. L offensa a striking against, hurt, displeasure, both f. offendere (as OB-, fendere fens- strike)
THESAURUS
offence
breach, crime, dereliction, error, fault, felony, harm, hurt, infraction, infringement, injure, insult, lapse, malefaction, misdeed, misdemeanor, offend, outrage, peccadillo, sin, slight, slip, take umbrage, transgression, trespass, violation, wrong, wrongdoing