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violence

[vahy-uh-luhns]

Origin

noun

swift and intense force: the violence of a storm.

rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment: to die by violence.

an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws: to take over a government by violence.

a violent act or proceeding.

rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language: the violence of his hatred.

EXPAND

damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration: to do editorial violence to a text.

COLLAPSE

Origin:
1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin violentia; see violent, -ence

Related forms

an·ti·vi·o·lence, adjective

coun·ter·vi·o·lence, noun

self-vi·o·lence, noun

Synonyms
1. might, power, impact, fury.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Violence is always a great word to know.

So is bezoar. Does it mean:

a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.

a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

violence (ˈvaɪələns)

—n
1.	the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc
2.	powerful, untamed, or devastating force: the violence of the sea
3.	great strength of feeling, as in language, etc; fervour
4.	an unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, esp such as tends to overawe or intimidate
5.	do violence to
	a. to inflict harm upon; damage or violate: they did violence to the prisoners
	b. to distort or twist the sense or intention of: the reporters did violence to my speech

[C13: via Old French from Latin violentia impetuosity, from violentusviolent]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

violence

late 13c., "physical force used to inflict injury or damage," from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. violence, from L. violentia "vehemence, impetuosity," from violentus "vehement, forcible," probably related to violare (see violate). Weakened sense of "improper treatment" is attested from 1590s.

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Matching Quote

"The more dubious and uncertain an instrument violence has become in international relations, the more it has gained in reputation and appeal in domestic affairs, specifically in the matter of revolution."

-Hannah Arendt

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