TRESPASS

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does trespass mean? 

• TRESPASS (noun)
  The noun TRESPASS has 2 senses:

1. a wrongful interference with the possession of property (personal property as well as realty), or the action instituted to recover damages

2. entry to another's property without right or permission

  Familiarity information: TRESPASS used as a noun is rare.

• TRESPASS (verb)
  The verb TRESPASS has 5 senses:

1. enter unlawfully on someone's property

2. make excessive use of

3. break the law

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

5. pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

  Familiarity information: TRESPASS used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRESPASS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A wrongful interference with the possession of property (personal property as well as realty), or the action instituted to recover damages

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("trespass" is a kind of...):

civil wrong; tort ((law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trespass"):

continuing trespass (trespass that is not transient or intermittent but continues as long as the offending object remains)

trespass de bonis asportatis (an action brought to recover damages from a person who has taken goods or property from its rightful owner)

trespass on the case (an action brought to recover damages from a person whose actions have resulted indirectly in injury or loss)

trespass quare clausum fregit (the defendant unlawfully enters the land of the plaintiff)

trespass viet armis (trespass with force and arms resulting in injury to another's person or property)

Derivation:

trespass (break the law)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Entry to another's property without right or permission

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

encroachment; intrusion; trespass; usurpation; violation

Hypernyms ("trespass" is a kind of...):

actus reus; misconduct; wrongdoing; wrongful conduct (activity that transgresses moral or civil law)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trespass"):

inroad (an encroachment or intrusion)

Derivation:

trespass (enter unlawfully on someone's property)

• TRESPASS (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they trespass    ... he / she / it trespasses   
Past simple: trespassed   
Past participle: trespassed   
-ing form: trespassing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Enter unlawfully on someone's property

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

intrude; trespass

Context example:

Don't trespass on my land!

Hypernyms (to "trespass" 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 "trespass"):

break; break in (enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

trespass (make excessive use of)

Derivation:

trespass (entry to another's property without right or permission)

trespasser (someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make excessive use of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

take advantage; trespass

Context example:

She is trespassing upon my privacy

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

use (seek or achieve an end by using to one's advantage)

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

encroach; entrench; impinge; trench (impinge or infringe upon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Break the law

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

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

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

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

trespass (a wrongful interference with the possession of property (personal property as well as realty), or the action instituted to recover damages)

Sense 4

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 "trespass" 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 "trespass"):

fall (yield to temptation or sin)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

overstep; transgress; trespass

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

pass (go across or through)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

“She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

“You have no business there. How dare you trespass? Go along! Oh! you bold-faced thing!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They arrested three for "suspicion of trespassing" and another for an incident related to alcohol.

(Millions don't turn up to 'storm' US airbase for extraterrestrial evidence, Wikinews)

“You may wait here a moment; and there is no reason why your friends should not wait with you. I will be entirely at your service in three minutes, if I might trespass upon your patience so far.”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Something was certainly to be concealed; her fancy, though it had trespassed lately once or twice, could not mislead her here; and what that something was, a short sentence of Miss Tilney's, as they followed the general at some distance downstairs, seemed to point out: I was going to take you into what was my mother's room—the room in which she died— were all her words; but few as they were, they conveyed pages of intelligence to Catherine.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Well, he continued, looking round him with an insolent stare, I should vastly like to know who has had the insolence to give me so pressing an invitation to visit my own house, and what in the devil you mean by daring to trespass upon my grounds?

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A name that I am so very well acquainted with; knew the gentleman so well by sight; seen him a hundred times; came to consult me once, I remember, about a trespass of one of his neighbours; farmer's man breaking into his orchard; wall torn down; apples stolen; caught in the fact; and afterwards, contrary to my judgement, submitted to an amicable compromise.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Didn't they steal sips of tea, stuff gingerbread ad libitum, get a hot biscuit apiece, and as a crowning trespass, didn't they each whisk a captivating little tart into their tiny pockets, there to stick and crumble treacherously, teaching them that both human nature and a pastry are frail?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

If ever there was a donkey trespassing on my green, said my aunt, with emphasis, there was one this afternoon at four o'clock.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.—'There, Mrs. Bennet.'—My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends—but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'ennight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)