violate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to destroy

   Don't violate my garden.

2. 2
   verb

   to destroy and strip of its possessions

   The town was violated by raiders.

3. 3
   verb

   to act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

   The police officer violated my rights.

4. 4
   verb

   to force someone to have sex against their will

   I was violated by a stranger.

5. 5
   verb

   to violate the sacred character of a place or language

   You have violated this sanctuary with your bad behavior.

6. 6
   verb

   To break or disregard (a rule or convention).

   Drinking-and-driving violates the law.

7. 7
   verb

   To rape.

   That Antonia whom you violated, was your Sister! That Elvira whom you murdered, gave you birth! Tremble, abandoned Hypocrite! Inhuman Parricide! Incestuous Ravisher!

8. 8
   verb

   To cite (a person) for a parole violation.

   If you don't have a job, you can't pay the money, then you get violated and have to go back to prison.

Etymology

From Middle English violaten (“to defile, render impure”), from violat(e) (“defiled, desecrated”, also used as the past participle of violaten) + -en, borrowed from Latin violātus, perfect passive participle of violō (“to treat with violence (whether bodily or mental)”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Ultimately from vīs (“strength, power, force, violence”).