Offensive

Offensive

Adjective / Noun · /əˈfen.sɪv/

Definition

(Adjective) causing resentment, hurt, or anger; insulting; deeply unpleasant; morally repugnant; relating to attack rather than defence; (Noun, military/sport) a strategic attack or campaign; a coordinated forward operation: launch an offensive, be on the offensive.

Origin

From French offensif (attacking, aggressive) and Medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offensus (struck against, hurt, offended), past participle of offendere (to strike against, to hurt, to displease: ob- (against) + -fendere, to strike — related to defend (de- + fendere)). Offendere therefore meaning to strike against — the same metaphorical transfer from physical striking to emotional hurt that also gives offend, offence, and offender. The military noun sense — a strategic attack — developing from the adjective in the eighteenth century.