violentia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [wi.ɔˈɫɛn.ti.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [vi.oˈlɛn.t͡si.a]^[1]

Forms

violentia f (genitive violentiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin violentus (“violent”) + -ia.^[2][1] Köbler traces it to vīs “force”.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses it of someone dragging a girl from Venus' altar vī, violentiā “by force and violence”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It was the unreasonable use of force against others, as Cicero's unbridled violence of a new man, and a violent, fierce character.^[2][4] It was also destructive force in nature, the violence of wine in Lucretius, of fire, the sun in Pliny or winter in Columella.^[2][4] Quintilian contrasts it with vīs, saying that what some call force is rather violence.^[5]

In medieval British Latin it was harmful physical force, and also rape.^[6] The law codes use violentia expeditionis for force of war.^[3] English violence is recorded in the late 13th century.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of force.^[2][3]
• 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of the force of wine.^[2][3]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian contrasts it with vīs.^[5][3]
• late 13th century – English violence is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Noun

1. violence, unreasonable force used against others.^[2][5]
2. A violent or fierce character; vehemence.^[5][4]
3. Destructive force of natural things, such as fire, wine or the sun.^[2][4]
4. (Medieval Latin) An act of violence; rape.^[6]

Related words

• violēns
• violō
• vīs
• English violence

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
5. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b 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