outrage

Etymology

From Middle English outrage, from Old French outrage, oultrage (“excess”), from Vulgar Latin *ultrāticum ("a going beyond"), derived from Latin ultrā (“beyond”). Later reanalysed as out- + rage, whence the contemporary pronunciation, though neither of these is etymologically related. The verb is from Middle English outragen, from Old French oultragier.

noun

1. An excessively violent or vicious attack; an atrocity.
   There the cause of death was soon ascertained ; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which […] was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom. […] 1905, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, chapter 1, in The Tremarn Case
2. An offensive, immoral or indecent act.
3. The resentful, indignant, or shocked anger aroused by such acts.
4. (obsolete) A destructive rampage.

verb

1. (transitive) To cause or commit an outrage upon; to treat with violence or abuse.
   August 30, 1706, Francis Atterbury, a sermon preach'd in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, at the funeral of Mr. Tho. Bennet Base and insolent minds […] outrage men when they have Hopes of doing it without a Return.
   1725-1726, William Broome, Odyssey The interview […] outrages all the rules of decency.
2. (transitive) To inspire feelings of outrage in.
   The senator's comments outraged the community.
3. (archaic, transitive) To sexually violate; to rape.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To rage in excess of.