trespass

C2+ Topic:Verbs of Movement

US /ˈtrɛspəs/ UK /ˈtrɛspəs/ See IPA manual

verb noun

Meanings

1

verb
to enter property unlawfully; a wrongful or sinful act

Signs warned that anyone who trespassed would be prosecuted.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to enter property... intrude encroach infringe transgress violate offense sin

Opposites

obey respect

Word family

Derived forms trespasser

Related forms pass passage compass surpass

Etymology

From Old French trespasser ('to pass beyond, cross, transgress'), from tres- ('beyond', from Latin trans-) + passer ('to pass', from Vulgar Latin *passare, from Latin passus 'step').

trespasser Old French trans Latin passus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Verbs of Movement

# trespass

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈtrɛspəs
**IPA (UK):** ˈtrɛspəs

## Meanings
1. to enter property unlawfully; a wrongful or sinful act

## Examples
- Signs warned that anyone who trespassed would be prosecuted.

## Synonyms
- intrude
- encroach
- infringe
- transgress
- violate
- offense
- sin

## Antonyms
- obey
- respect

## Derived Forms
- trespasser

## Related Forms
- pass
- passage
- compass
- surpass

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: trespasser
- Root: trans
- Root: passus

## Etymology
From Old French trespasser ('to pass beyond, cross, transgress'), from tres- ('beyond', from Latin trans-) + passer ('to pass', from Vulgar Latin *passare, from Latin passus 'step').

## AI Etymology
Trespass comes from Old French trespasser ('to pass beyond, cross, transgress'), from tres- ('beyond', from Latin trans-) + passer ('to pass', from Vulgar Latin *passare, from Latin passus 'step'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a verb and noun, it means "to enter property unlawfully; a wrongful or sinful act", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Old French trespasser, Latin trans, and Latin passus. Derivative forms include trespasser; related words include pass, passage, compass, surpass.

## Topics
- Verbs of Movement

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trespass

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