from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Violence \Vi"o*lence\, n. [F., fr. L. violentia. See {Violent}.]
1. The quality or state of being violent; highly excited
action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity;
force.
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That seal
You ask with such a violence, the king,
Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me.
--Shak.
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All the elements
At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn
With the violence of this conflict. --Milton.
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2. Injury done to that which is entitled to respect,
reverence, or observance; profanation; infringement;
unjust force; outrage; assault.
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Do violence to do man. --Luke iii.
14.
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We can not, without offering violence to all
records, divine and human, deny an universal deluge.
--T. Burnet.
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Looking down, he saw
The whole earth filled with violence. --Milton.
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3. Ravishment; rape; constupration.
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{To do violence on}, to attack; to murder. "She . . . did
violence on herself." --Shak.
{To do violence to}, to outrage; to injure; as, he does
violence to his own opinions.
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Syn: Vehemence; outrage; fierceness; eagerness; violation;
infraction; infringement; transgression; oppression.
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