transgress

present singular third person transgresses · participle present transgressing · participle past transgressed · past transgressed

1. transitiveTo exceed or overstep some limit or boundary.

   surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law

   1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   They sometimes transgressed colonial boundaries, forming border communities with Native Americans and escaped black slaves.

   2006, Matt Wray, Not Quite White, page 17

   Synonyms: forpass

2. transitiveTo act in violation of some law.

   For man will hearken to his glozing lies, And easily transgress the sole command.

   1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   1 more example

   There were some young men who transgressed the ḥerem and danced with foreign women [i.e. non-relatives] and forbidden women.

   2024, David Golinkin, “Is Mixed Dancing Really Forbidden At Weddings?”, in Responsa in a Moment, volume 4, page 240

3. intransitiveTo commit an offense; to sin.

   Why give you peace to this untemperate beast That hath so long transgressed you?

   c. 1608–1611, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Maid’s Tragedy”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

4. intransitiveTo spread over land along a shoreline; to inundate.