weapons of offense

Offense \Of*fense"\, Offence \Of*fence"\, n. [F., fr. L.
   offensa. See {Offend}.]
   1. The act of offending in any sense; esp., a crime or a sin,
      an affront or an injury.
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            Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised
            again for our justification.          --Rom. iv. 25.
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            I have given my opinion against the authority of two
            great men, but I hope without offense to their
            memories.                             --Dryden.
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   2. The state of being offended or displeased; anger;
      displeasure; as, to cause offense.
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            He was content to give them just cause of offense,
            when they had power to make just revenge. --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.
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   3. A cause or occasion of stumbling or of sin. [Obs.]
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            Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! --Matt.
                                                  xviii. 7.
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   4. In any contest, the act or process of attacking as
      contrasted with the act of defending; the offensive; as,
      to go on the offense.
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   5. (Sports) The members of a team who have the primary
      responsibility to score goals, in contrast to those who
      have the responsibility to defend, i.e. to prevent the
      opposing team from scoring goal.
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   Note: This word, like expense, is often spelled with a c. It
         ought, however, to undergo the same change with
         expense, the reasons being the same, namely, that s
         must be used in offensive as in expensive, and is found
         in the Latin offensio, and the French offense.
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   {To take offense}, to feel, or assume to be, injured or
      affronted; to become angry or hostile.

   {Weapons of offense}, those which are used in attack, in
      distinction from those of defense, which are used to
      repel.
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   Syn: Displeasure; umbrage; resentment; misdeed; misdemeanor;
        trespass; transgression; delinquency; fault; sin; crime;
        affront; indignity; outrage; insult.
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