trespass
/ˈtrespəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtrespæs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtre-ˌspas also -spəs/ (ame, mw) · /ˈtres.pəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtres.pæs/ (ame, ipa)
trespass — verb
- trespasspresent simple I / you / we / they
- trespasseshe / she / it
- trespassedpast simple
- trespassing-ing form
1. to walk into or stay on a piece of land that belongs to another person, when you
to walk into or stay on a piece of land that belongs to another person, when you have not been allowed to be there.
Christopher was fined for trespassing on the army training ground near his farm.
trespass on + place (typical legal collocation)
Three teenagers trespassed on the old factory site to take photos of the rusty machines.
A large sign by the gate warned hikers not to trespass on the private estate.
Zola apologised to the farmer after her dog ran across the field and trespassed on his land.
Anyone caught trespassing inside the wildlife reserve can be taken to court.
文法句型
trespass on + place
trespass upon + place
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or an animal; the place is private land, a building site, or a restricted area. The act counts as trespass whether or not damage is done — the offence is simply being on the land without consent.
常見錯誤
2. to act against an ethical or religious rule about how one person should treat an
to act against an ethical or religious rule about how one person should treat another — for example, lying to a friend or cheating someone in business.
The old prayer asks God to forgive those who trespass against us.
religious set phrase: 'trespass against'
Erik felt that gossiping about his neighbour was a way of trespassing on her dignity.
The minister warned the congregation that greed makes people trespass against one another.
By reading Saira's private diary, her cousin had clearly trespassed on her trust.
- transgress
very similar in this formal moral sense; slightly more common in modern writing
- sin
stronger religious force; usually used without an object or with 'against'
文法句型
trespass against + person/principle
用法筆記
Frequently found in religious texts, prayers, and old-fashioned moral writing; rare in everyday modern English. Distinguish from sense 1: here the 'land' is abstract (someone's trust, dignity, conscience), not real property.
trespass — noun
- trespasssingular
- trespassesplural
1. the offence of going onto land or into a building owned by someone else without
the offence of going onto land or into a building owned by someone else without being allowed to be there.
The factory owner sued the protesters for trespass after they climbed over the back wall.
countable: 'a trespass' / uncountable: 'trespass'
A clear notice at the entrance read: 'No trespass — guard dogs on duty'.
warning-sign register
Indra called the police to report a trespass on her grandfather's farm.
Under English law, trespass on private land is mostly a civil matter, not a crime.
- intrusion
broader; can describe entry into space, conversation, or affairs
用法筆記
Treated as countable when referring to one specific incident (a trespass), and as uncountable when referring to the general offence (trespass). Object of the offence is land or buildings, never people.
2. a wrong action that goes against an ethical or religious teaching, especially wh
a wrong action that goes against an ethical or religious teaching, especially when seen as harming another person or offending God.
In her old church, members were taught to confess their trespasses every Sunday morning.
plural countable: 'trespasses'
The novel describes a young woman who feels weighed down by the trespasses of her youth.
Forgiving the trespasses of others is a central idea in the Lord's Prayer.
Caio asked his grandmother to forgive the small trespass of borrowing her ring without asking.
- transgression
more common in modern formal writing for the moral sense
- sin
stronger religious force; everyday speakers use this more often
用法筆記
Mostly appears in religious, literary, or old-fashioned moral writing; modern speakers prefer 'sin' or 'wrongdoing'. Distinguish from sense 1: here no real property is involved — the 'offence' is moral, not legal.