v. trans·gressed, trans·gress·ing, trans·gress·es v.tr. 1. To go beyond or over (a limit or boundary); exceed or overstep: "to make sure that her characters didn't transgress the parameters of ordinariness" (Ron Rosenbaum). 2. To act in violation of (the law, for example). v.intr. 1. To commit an offense by violating a law, principle, or duty. 2. To spread over land, especially over the land along a subsiding shoreline. Used of the sea. [Middle English transgressen, from Old French transgresser, from Latin trānsgredī, trānsgress-, to step across : trāns-, trans- + gradī, to go; see ghredh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] trans·gressi·ble adj. trans·gressor n. |
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