I.not struck; without stumbling, without hinderance, unobstructed, uninjured (poet. and in postAug. prose).
I. Lit.: “cogit inoffensae currus accedere metae,” untouched, not grazed, Luc. 8, 201: “voluptatis regionisque abundantiam inoffensa transmitteres,” Plin. Ep. 6, 4, 2: “inoffensum pedem referre,” not stumbling, Tib. 1, 7, 62.—
II. Transf., that goes on without hinderance, without obstacle, unhindered, uninterrupted: “lumen oculorum,” Pall. 1, 3: “inoffensae metam tangere vitae,” placid, undisturbed, Ov. Tr. 1, 9, 1: “sed mare inoffensum crescenti adlabitur aestu,” Verg. A. 10, 292: “oratio,” Sen. Ep. 52: “cursus honorum,” Tac. H. 1, 48: “litterarum inter se conjunctio,” Quint. 1, 1, 31: “copulatio vocum,” id. 1, 10, 23: “tantā temperantiā (vir) ut omnia fere vitae suae tempora valetudine inoffensa vixerit,” Gell. 2, 1, 4.— Adv.: ĭnoffensē , without stumbling, without hinderance, Ambros. Apol. David, 3, § 9; id. in Psa. 118, Serm. 10, 43; Cassiod. Var. 11, 35.—Comp.: “inoffensius,” Gell. 6, 2, 8.