Etymologically
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violo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈwi.ɔ.ɫoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈviː.o.lo][1]

Forms

violō (present infinitive violāre, perfect active violāvī, supine violātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is probably from a deverbal adjective Proto-Italic *wijelo- (“chasing, violating”), from Proto-Indo-European *uiH-elo-, from the root *uiH- “to strive after, chase”, as in via.[2][1] It was traditionally derived from vīs “force”, and the Oxford Latin Dictionary follows this while noting that the formation is unclear.[3][4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in a sacred law inscription and in Plautus.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to violate or profane temples and sacred things, to treat persons with violence or outrage, as Caesar's guest, and to rape.[3][6][1] It was to transgress a law, right or relationship, and to wound or injure, as in Ovid.[3] Döderlein says it is an injury to a person's rights, against laedō, physical hurt.[7]

From it came violentus and violentia, the source of English violence.[2][8] Its participle gave English violate.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it and violentia.[2][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar speaks of violence to a guest.[6][5]
  • late 13th century – English violence is recorded.[8]
  • early 15th century – English violate is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To violate, profane (sacred things).[3][4]
  2. To treat with violence, outrage; to rape.[3][1]
  3. To transgress, infringe (a law, a right).[3]
  4. To injure, wound.[3]

Word family

  • violātor
  • violentus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com