First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
transgress
verb trans·gress \tran(t)s-ˈgres, tranz-\
: to do something that is not allowed : to disobey a command or law
Full Definition of TRANSGRESS
intransitive verb
1
: to violate a command or law : sin
2
: to go beyond a boundary or limit
transitive verb
1
: to go beyond limits set or prescribed by : violate <transgress divine law>
2
: to pass beyond or go over (a limit or boundary)
— trans·gres·sive \-ˈgre-siv\ adjective
— trans·gres·sor \-ˈgre-sər\ noun
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Origin of TRANSGRESS
Middle English, from Middle French transgresser, from Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredi to step beyond or across, from trans- + gradi to step — more at grade
Related to TRANSGRESS
Rhymes with TRANSGRESS
abscess, access, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress
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