TRANSGRESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does transgress mean? 

• TRANSGRESS (verb)
  The verb TRANSGRESS has 4 senses:

1. act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

2. spread over land, especially along a subsiding shoreline

3. commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law

4. pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

  Familiarity information: TRANSGRESS used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRANSGRESS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they transgress    ... he / she / it transgresses   
Past simple: transgressed   
Past participle: transgressed   
-ing form: transgressing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

breach; break; go against; infract; offend; transgress; violate

Context example:

break a promise

Hypernyms (to "transgress" is one way to...):

disrespect (show a lack of respect for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "transgress"):

sin; transgress; trespass (commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law)

blunder; boob; drop the ball; goof; sin (commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake)

conflict; contravene; infringe; run afoul (go against, as of rules and laws)

trespass (break the law)

intrude; trespass (enter unlawfully on someone's property)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

transgression (the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle)

transgressor (someone who transgresses; someone who violates a law or command)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Spread over land, especially along a subsiding shoreline

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The sea transgresses along the West coast of the island

Hypernyms (to "transgress" is one way to...):

overspread; spread (spread across or over)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

transgression (the spreading of the sea over land as evidenced by the deposition of marine strata over terrestrial strata)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

sin; transgress; trespass

Hypernyms (to "transgress" is one way to...):

breach; break; go against; infract; offend; transgress; violate (act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "transgress"):

fall (yield to temptation or sin)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

transgression (the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

overstep; transgress; trespass

Hypernyms (to "transgress" is one way to...):

pass (go across or through)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

transgression (the action of going beyond or overstepping some boundary or limit)

 Context examples 

She doubted whether she had not transgressed the duty of woman by woman, in betraying her suspicions of Jane Fairfax's feelings to Frank Churchill.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The forgiveness, at first, indeed, as was reasonable, comprehended only Robert; and Lucy, who had owed his mother no duty and therefore could have transgressed none, still remained some weeks longer unpardoned.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He certainly knew what was right, nor could she fix on any one article of moral duty evidently transgressed; but yet she would have been afraid to answer for his conduct.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Is it better to drive a fellow-creature to despair than to transgress a mere human law, no man being injured by the breach? for you have neither relatives nor acquaintances whom you need fear to offend by living with me?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)