different between offensive vs unseemly

English

Alternative forms

• offencive (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French offensif, from Medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offendere (“to offend”), past participle offensus; see offend.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??f?ns?v/
• (sports): (US) IPA^(key): /???f?ns?v/

Adjective

offensive (comparative more offensive, superlative most offensive)

1. Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, or hatred.

   Antonym: inoffensive

2. Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.

   Antonym: defensive

3. (sports) Having to do with play directed at scoring.

Usage notes

• When the second syllable is emphasized, "offensive" is defined as "insulting". When the first syllable is emphasized, it refers to the attacker in a conflict or a sport.
• Nouns to which "offensive" is often applied: content, material, language, word, comment, remark, statement, speech, joke, humor, image, picture, art, behavior, conduct, act, action.

Synonyms

• aggressive
• invidious (Intending to cause envious offense)

Derived terms

Related terms

• offend
• offense

Translations

Noun

offensive (countable and uncountable, plural offensives)

1. (countable, military) An attack.

2. (uncountable) The posture of attacking or being able to attack.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• offensive in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• offensive in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Danish

Adjective

offensive

1. plural and definite singular attributive of offensiv

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?.f??.siv/
• Homophone: offensives

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

offensive f (plural offensives)

1. (military) offensive (an attack)

Descendants

• ? German: Offensive

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the main entry.

Adjective

offensive

1. feminine singular of offensif

Further reading

• “offensive” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

offensive

1. inflection of offensiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /of.fen?si.ve/
• Hyphenation: of?fen?sì?ve
• Rhymes: -ive

Adjective

offensive

1. feminine plural of offensivo

Noun

offensive f

1. plural of offensiva

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

offensive

1. definite singular/plural of offensiv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

offensive

1. definite singular/plural of offensiv

English

Alternative forms

• unsemely (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English unsemli, probably a partial calque of Old Norse ús?miligr (“unseemly”); equivalent to un- +? seemly. Cognate with Icelandic ósæmileg (“offensive”), Norwegian usømmelig (“unseemly”), Danish usømmeligt (“unseemly”).

Adjective

unseemly (comparative unseemlier, superlative unseemliest)

1. Inconsistent with established standards of good form or taste.

   He was drunk and made some very unseemly comments.

   • An unseemly outbreak of temper.

Antonyms

• seemly

Related terms

• unseemliness

Translations

See also

• inappropriate

Adverb

unseemly (comparative more unseemly, superlative most unseemly)

1. In an unseemly manner.