01 n. The quality or state of being violent; highly excited action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity; force.
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1.
The quality or state of being violent; highly excited action, whether physical or moral; vehemence; impetuosity; force.“That seal You ask with such a violence, the king, Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me.” — Shak.“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.“Do violence to do man.” — Luke iii. 14.“We can not, without offering violence to all records, divine and human, deny an universal deluge.” — T. Burnet.“Looking down, he saw The whole earth filled with violence.” — Milton.
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3.
Ravishment; rape; constupration.
Phrases & compounds
To do violence on —
to attack; to murder.
To do violence to —
to outrage; to injure; as, he does violence to his own opinions.