Offence

A breach of the laws established for the protection of the public, as distinguished from an infringement of mere private rights; a punishable violation of law; a crime; also, sometimes, a crime of the lesser grade; a misdemeanor. The most convenient use of this and interchangeable, and as embracing the whole class of punishable acts; and to employ "felony" and "misdemeanor" to distinguish two divisions, which it is convenient to make, of ordinary crimes or offences, according to their degree of gu Ut and severity of punishment. But "offence" is often used in the sense of a light crime; a misdemeanor. Offences are either capital or not capital: capital offences are such as draw down the punishment of death on the offender, such as high treason, felony, &c. Offences not capital are those of a less important nature, and which are generally termed misdemeanors. Brown. " Offence " is any crime, or act of wickedness. The word is used as a genus, comprehending every crime and misdemeanor, or as a species, signifying a crime not indictable, but punishable summarily, or by the forfeiture of a penalty. Offences are divided into three classes; viz., treasons; felonies or major offences; and misdemeanors or minor offences.

Wharton.