Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of entering someone's land or property without permission or legal right: "Trespass" primarily refers to the unlawful physical intrusion onto another person's real estate.
   • A wrongful act that harms or interferes with another person's rights or property: In law, it can also denote any wrongful interference with the possession of property, including personal property.
   • A sin or offense, especially against a moral or divine law: In a religious or moral context, "trespass" means a transgression or violation of a law or rule.

2. Verb:

   • To enter someone's land or property without permission or legal right: This is the most common use, meaning to go onto land unlawfully.
   • To violate a law, rule, or moral principle: To commit an offense or sin.
   • To make unfair or excessive demands on something, often abstract: To intrude upon or take advantage of something like someone's time, privacy, or goodwill.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The farmer put up a sign saying "No Trespassing" to keep hunters off his land.
  • Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. (A common religious phrase)
  • The lawsuit was for trespass and damage to the garden.

• Verb:

  • It is illegal to trespass on private property.
  • He felt he had trespassed against his own conscience by lying.
  • I don't want to trespass on your hospitality by staying too long.

Advanced Usage

• "Trespass against": To commit an offense or sin against someone or something.

  • He trespassed against the community's trust.

• "Trespass on/upon": To intrude or encroach upon something, often intangible.

  • I hope I'm not trespassing upon your time with all these questions.
  • The new regulations trespass upon our personal freedoms.

Variants and Related Words

• Trespasser (n): A person who trespasses, especially on someone's land.

  • The police warned the trespassers to leave the construction site.

• Trespassory (adj): Relating to or involving trespass.

  • The court examined the trespassory nature of the act.

Synonyms

• Encroach: To intrude gradually on a person's territory, rights, etc.
• Intrude: To put oneself into a situation where one is not welcome or invited.
• Violate: To break or fail to comply with a rule or formal agreement.
• Transgress: To infringe or go beyond the bounds of a moral principle or law.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Trespass" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The prepositions "on," "upon," and "against" are used with it as shown in the examples above.)

Related Idioms

• No trespassing: A standard warning, often on signs, indicating that entry onto the property is forbidden.

  • We had to turn back when we saw the "No Trespassing" sign.

• Trespass offering: (Historical/Biblical) A sacrifice made to atone for an unintentional trespass or sin.

  • The law required a trespass offering for certain violations.

Noun

1. entry to another's property without right or permission
2. a wrongful interference with the possession of property (personal property as well as realty), or the action instituted to recover damages

Verb

1. pass beyond (limits or boundaries)
2. commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law
3. break the law
4. make excessive use of
   • You are taking advantage of my good will!
   • She is trespassing upon my privacy
5. enter unlawfully on someone's property
   • Don't trespass on my land!