Fensive
/ˈfɛn.sɪv/noun
Obsolete: offensive or tending to cause offense.
Did you know?“Fensive” is an obsolete English form related to “offensive,” whose Latin ancestor, offendere, literally meant “to strike against” or “to stumble against.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷhen-
“To strike or kill; a proposed ancient root behind Latin words involving striking.”
Classical Latin
Latin
offendere
“To strike against, stumble against, or offend.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
offensivus
“Causing offense or serving to attack.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
offensif
“Offensive; attacking.”
14th Century
Middle English
offensif
“Offensive or injurious.”
Early Modern English
English
fensive
“An obsolete shortened form meaning offensive or tending to offend.”