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pimlottcyesterday at 8:52 PM11 repliesview on HN

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wflemingyesterday at 9:04 PM

As I understand it, "to be trespassed" is a term of art that basically means "the cops were called, told that person was trespassing, the cops duly informed that person they are trespassing & had to leave the property, and the person left, but was not charged". It's basically establishing a legal trail so that if the person refuses to leave or continues to trespass at that location in the future they have a better basis for charging them.

senkorayesterday at 9:05 PM

It seems to be a real definition, see definition 6 under etymology 2:

> (transitive, law, especially New Zealand)[1] To subject [someone] to a trespass notice, formally notifying them that they are prohibited from entry to a property, such that any current or future presence there will constitute trespass, (especially) criminal trespass

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trespass#English

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ceheaafyesterday at 9:25 PM

You have to be informed that you're not allowed to be on the premises ("trespassed") and be allowed to leave before you can be charged with trespassing.

gkobergeryesterday at 8:55 PM

I don't use it that way, but it is correct. "The property owner or police barred you from the property."

I had never heard it until recently, and now this is the third time I've heard it used that way.

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arjieyesterday at 10:42 PM

This is a personal pet peeve though in a descriptive sense the language has moved past us https://wiki.roshangeorge.dev/w/Blog/2025-12-10/Trespass

Personally, I have decided that The Lord's Prayer now has the new and alternative meaning when it reads:

    Forgive us our trespasses
jccalhounyesterday at 9:45 PM

I have heard my friends here in the USA say it about someone locally who is known to cause trouble with businesses. I had never heard it said that way until they said it that way.

ImPostingOnHNyesterday at 8:58 PM

To be trespassed means given legal notice to stay away from now on. If you don't, the cops will often be called at that point.

umanwizardtoday at 12:52 AM

It's colloquially used like that in the blackjack community. "Being trespassed" by a casino means the casino informs you that you must leave and that if you return, you will be guilty of trespassing.

benayesterday at 9:00 PM

It can also be used to mean "kicked out and told they can't come back".