transgress Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises
    go against; infract; violate; break; offend; breach.
    • offend all laws of humanity
    • violate the basic laws or human civilization
    • break a law
    • break a promise
  2. verb spread over land, especially along a subsiding shoreline
    • The sea transgresses along the West coast of the island
  3. verb commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law
    trespass; sin.
  4. verb pass beyond (limits or boundaries)
    overstep; trespass.

WordNet

Trans*gress" transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. transgresser. See Transgression.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Transgressed ; present participle & verbal noun Transgressing
Definitions
  1. To pass over or beyond; to surpass. R.
    Surpassing common faith, transgressing nature's law. Dryden.
  2. Hence, to overpass, as any prescribed as the imit of duty; to break or violate, as a law, civil or moral.
    For man will hearken to his glozing lies, And easily transgress the sole command. Milton.
  3. To offend against; to vex. Obs.
    Why give you peace to this imperate beast That hath so long transgressed you ? Beau. & Fl.
Trans*gress" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To offend against the law; to sin.
    Who transgressed in the thing accursed. I Chron. ii. 7.

Webster 1913