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trespass Definition

tres·pass (tres′pəs; also, esp. for v., -pas′)

intransitive verb

  1. to go beyond the limits of what is considered right or moral; do wrong; transgress
  2. to go on another's land or property without permission or right
  3. to intrude or encroach to trespass on one's time
  4. Law to commit a trespass

Etymology: ME trespassen < OFr trespasser < VL *transpassare, to pass across < L trans-, trans- + VL *passare, to pass < L passus: see pace

noun

the act or an instance of trespassing; specif.,

  1. a moral offense; transgression
  2. an encroachment or intrusion
  3. Law an illegal act done forcefully against another's person, rights, or property; also, legal action for damages resulting from this

Etymology: ME trespas < OFr < the v.

trespass Related Forms
tres′·passer noun
trespass Synonyms

trespass

v.

  1. To transgress

    offend, err, displease; see misbehave, sin, transgress.

  2. To intrude

    intrude, encroach, invade, infringe; see meddle 1.

trespass implies an unlawful or unwarranted entrance upon the property, rights, etc. of another to trespass on a private beach; to encroach is to make inroads by stealth or gradual advances suburbs encroaching on our farmland; infringe implies an encroachment that breaks a law or agreement or violates the rights of others to infringe on a patent; intrude implies a thrusting oneself into company, situations, etc. without being asked or wanted to intrude on one's privacy; invade implies a forcible or hostile entrance into the territory or rights of others to invade a neighboring state

trespass Law Definition

n

An illegal act committed against another’s person or property; especially entering upon another’s land without the owner’s permission.

n

In common law, a legal suit for injuries resulting from an instance of the first definition.

v

To enter upon property without permission, either actual or constructive. 
trespass on the case
A common-law precursor to today’s negligence, nuisance, and business torts, it was a suit to remedy injury to person or property not resulting directly from the defendant’s conduct but a later consequence of same.
trespass
quare clausem fregit. See quare clausem fregit.
trespass vi et armis

Latin

Latin. With force and arms. An immediate injury, such as an assault to another’s person or property, accompanied by force or violence.
trespass Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • aggravate: Of the 39 arrests, 16 were for aggravated trespass.
  • condone: Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass.
  • forgive: A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong doing for just a simple moment of your time?
  • commit: If you do so without permission from the landowner you may be committing trespass and be asked to leave.
  • prevent: Any scheme will need to include fencing to prevent trespass onto operational railroad land.
  • involve: Any activity beyond the scope of that agreed in the license would involve a trespass.

Adjective modifier

  • criminal: The penalty for an act of criminal trespass on the railways is a maximum fine of £ 1,000.
  • mass: During this period he was involved in policing the mass trespass on Kinder Scout.
  • civil: Being on the playground is an act of civil trespass.
  • light: Also, dark sky enthusiasts are interested in reducing obtrusive light, also called ' light trespass ' .

Preposition: on

  • railroad: The vast majority of people who trespass on the railroad are adults - taking a short cut or walking their dogs, for example.
  • land: Clusters have a downside that goes beyond trespass on green land.
  • site: Sections 128 to 131 introduce a new offense of trespass on sites designated by the Secretary of State.
  • line: Section 55 British Transport Commission Act 1949 penalizes trespass on railroad lines or property in dangerous proximity to such lines or electrical apparatus.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: General Rules: Do not trespass onto any adjoining private fields or woods.

Modifies a noun

  • offering: The trespass offering typifies Christ's payment for the damage of sin.
  • notice: I remember leaving a GCR trespass notice near one of the abutments of Horns Bridge viaduct as it was too common to bother with!
  • law: FACT: Even if Howard were to repeal the Human Rights Act, his proposed trespass law would still be illegal.
  • fee: Please continue to pay the trespass fee at the farm.

Noun used with modifier

  • mass: In 1932 a " mass trespass " took place on Kinder Scout.
trespass Quotes

For nature, heartless, witless nature, Will neither care nor know What stranger's feet may find the meadow And trespass there and go, Nor ask amid the dews of morning If they are mine or no.

—Housman, A(lfred) E(dward)

Browse dictionary entries near trespass

  1. ‹ treponema
  2. ‹ trepidation
  3. ‹ trephine
  4. ‹ trepang
  5. ‹ trepan
  6. ‹ Trenton
  7. ‹ Trento
  8. ‹ Trentino-Alto Adige
  9. ‹ trente et quarante
  10. ‹ Trent
  1. trespasser ›
  2. tress ›
  3. -tress ›
  4. tressed ›
  5. tressure ›
  6. trestle ›
  7. trestletree ›
  8. trestlework ›
  9. tret ›
  10. tretinoin ›