Trespassing

/ˈtrɛspæsɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Entering someone else's land or property without permission, which is against the law in most places.

Etymology

From Old French 'trespasser,' meaning 'to transgress' or 'to go beyond.' The prefix 'tres-' means 'across,' so trespassing originally meant crossing a boundary you shouldn't cross.

Kelly Says

The word 'trespassing' is tied to the entire concept of private property—without it, we wouldn't have a legal way to say 'this land is mine and you can't be here!' It's one of those words that literally created social order.

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