transgress

Verb

transgress (third-person singular simple present transgresses, present participle transgressing, simple past and past participle transgressed)

1. (transitive) To exceed or overstep some limit or boundary.
   • surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC
   • 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. (transitive) To 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...
   • 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. (intransitive) To 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...
4. (intransitive) To spread over land along a shoreline; to inundate.