Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

violate

 - 4 dictionary results

vi⋅o⋅late

  [vahy-uh-leyt]
Use violate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.
1. to break, infringe, or transgress (a law, rule, agreement, promise, instructions, etc.).
2. to break in upon or disturb rudely; interfere thoughtlessly with: to violate his privacy.
3. to break through or pass by force or without right: to violate a frontier.
4. to treat irreverently or disrespectfully; desecrate; profane: violate a human right.
5. to molest sexually, esp. to rape.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L violātus, ptp. of violāre to treat with violence, violate, appar. deriv. of violentus violent (taking viol- as base); see -ate 1

Related forms:
vi⋅o⋅la⋅tor, vi⋅o⋅lat⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To violate
vi·o·late   (vī'ə-lāt')   
tr.v.   vi·o·lat·ed, vi·o·lat·ing, vi·o·lates

  1. To break or disregard (a law or promise, for example).

  2. To assault (a person) sexually.

  3. To do harm to (property or qualities considered sacred); desecrate or defile.

  4. To disturb rudely or improperly; interrupt: violated our privacy.


[Middle English violaten, from Latin violāre, violāt-, from vīs, vi-, force; see weiə- in Indo-European roots.]
vi'o·la'tive adj., vi'o·la'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

violate  (v.)
1432, "to break" (an oath, etc.), from L. violatus (see violation). Sense of "ravish" is first recorded c.1440.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: vi·o·late
Pronunciation: 'vI-&-"lAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -lat·ed; -lat·ing
: to go against (as a prohibition or principle) : fail to observe or respect <violate a law> violated> <violate due process> —vi·o·la·tion /"vI-&-'lA-sh&n/ noun —vi·o·la·tive /'vI-&-"lA-tiv/ adjective —vi·o·la·tor /'vI-&-"lA-t&r/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see violate on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way