Etymologically
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violentia

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 21:19. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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]

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