violens

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈwi.ɔ.ɫẽːs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.o.lens]^[1]

Forms

violēns (genitive violentis, comparative violentior, adverb violenter); third-declension one-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is a by-form of violentus “violent”, from vīs “force”, and the OLD suggests it was formed on the analogy of vehemēns, and Wiktionary suggests a rebracketing of ⟨violentus⟩.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Horace, whom he dates 65–8 BC, and Horace uses it of the river Aufidus and of a horse.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant violent, vehement, impetuous, of winds, rivers, horses and people.^[2][5] Lewis & Short note that it is mostly poetic and post-Augustan, while violentus is the classical form.^[3]

British Medieval Latin used it for aggressive, violent.^[6] English violent (mid-14th century) is from Old French violent or Latin violentus.^[7]

Timeline

• 65–8 BC – Horace uses it.^[4][5]
• mid-14th century – English violent is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Violent, vehement, impetuous.^[2]

Related words

• violentus
• violentia
• vīs
• English violent

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com