transgress
trans-GRESS
/trænzˈɡres/
To go beyond the bounds of a moral principle or other established standard of behavior.
Stronger and more formal than 'break a rule'; it often implies crossing a sacred or very serious boundary.
The story behind the word. The word 'transgress' is a literal 'step across.' It comes from the Latin 'trans' (across) and 'gradi' (to step). It implies that there is a line drawn in the sand, and the transgressor is the one who chooses to put their foot on the other side.
Word relationships
- violate: Violate is more common and often implies a forceful or harmful breaking of a rule.
- infringe: Infringe is typically used for rights or patents rather than moral boundaries.
- obey: Obey is the simple act of following a command.
- uphold: Uphold means to support or maintain a rule or tradition.
Commonly confused with
- digress: To digress is to wander away from a topic in speech; to transgress is to wander away from a moral rule.
Word family
- transgression (noun): An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct.
- transgressor (noun): A person who breaks a rule or law.
Collocations
- transgress a boundary
- transgress the law
- transgress social norms
Idioms & expressions
- cross the line
- overstep the mark
Example sentences
- "He who has never longed to transgress the limits of his own small world has never truly lived." Reflecting on the nature of human curiosity.
- "There are no crimes that are not also sins, for to break the law is to transgress against the community's shared values." A legal and moral observation.
Memory hook
'Trans' (across) + 'Gress' (step) = Stepping across the line. Step across the line.
When not to use
Rarely used for minor infractions like a parking ticket; it is reserved for moral, social, or legal boundaries.
Fun facts
- In medieval literature, 'transgression' was often linked to the physical crossing of borders into 'forbidden' lands or forests.
Explore more words
infringe, aberrant, infringement, Breach, propriety, misconduct
Also appears in
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