Etymology dictionary. 2014.
offensive — [ ɔfɑ̃siv ] n. f. • 1587; de offensif 1 ♦ Action d attaquer l ennemi, en prenant l initiative des opérations. ⇒ attaque. Prendre, reprendre l offensive. Passer à l offensive. Une offensive : attaque d envergure, exécutée à l échelon d une grande… … Encyclopédie Universelle
offensive# — offensive adj 1 attacking, aggressive (see under ATTACK n) Analogous words: invasive, incursive (see corresponding nouns at INVASION): assaulting, assailing, attacking, bombarding, storming (see ATTACK vb) 2 Offensive, loathsome, repulsive,… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Offensive — Of*fen sive, a. [Cf. F. offensif. See {Offend}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment; displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words. [1913 Webster] 2. Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable; revolting;… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
offensive — of·fen·sive /ə fen siv/ adj 1: of, relating to, or designed for attack offensive weapons 2: causing displeasure or resentment; esp: contrary to a particular or prevailing sense of what is decent, proper, or moral depicted sexual acts in a… … Law dictionary
Offensive — Of*fen sive, n. The state or posture of one who offends or makes attack; aggressive attitude; the act of the attacking party; opposed to {defensive}. [1913 Webster] {To take the offensive}, {To act on the offensive}, {To go on the offensive}, to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
offensive — UK US /əˈfensɪv/ adjective ► causing someone to feel upset and angry, often because of being rude: offensive to sb »His comments were highly offensive to women. »The channel ran a series of grossly offensive advertisements … Financial and business terms
offensive — [adj1] disrespectful, insulting; displeasing abhorrent, abusive, annoying, biting, cutting, detestable, disagreeable, discourteous, distasteful, dreadful, embarrassing, evil, foul, ghastly, grisly, gross, hideous, horrible, horrid, impertinent,… … New thesaurus
offensive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) causing offence. 2) involved or used in active attack. 3) chiefly N. Amer. relating to the team in possession of the ball or puck in a game. ► NOUN ▪ a military campaign of attack. ● be on the offensive Cf. ↑ … English terms dictionary
offensive — [ə fen′siv; ] for adj., also [ ô′fen΄siv] adj. [ML offensivus < L offensa,OFFENSE] 1. attacking; aggressive 2. of or for attack ☆ 3. designating or of the side that is seeking to score in any contest 4. unpleasant, as to the senses;… … English World dictionary
Offensive — (v. lat.), der Angriff, im Gegensatz zur. Defensive (s.d.), besteht darin, daß die feindliche Macht aufgesucht u. angegriffen wird, der Offensivkrieg od. Angriffskrieg beginnt daher mit dem Einbruch in Feindes Land. Man unterscheidet dabei… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
Offensīve — (franz.), das angriffsweise Vorgehen gegen den Feind im Gegensatz zum Abwarten desselben in der Defensive (s. d.). Man unterscheidet die strategische O., das Angriffsverfahren in der Kriegführung, und die taktische O., den Angriff auf dem… … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
