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Added 8 October 2026

violate

/ˈvaɪəˌleɪt/ verb

In Latin: violō Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about violate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Fail to agree with; be in violation of; as of rules or patterns.
This sentence violates the rules of syntax
Act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises.
offend all laws of humanity
Destroy.
Don't violate my garden

Origin

From Middle English violaten (“to defile, render impure”), from violat(e) (“defiled, desecrated”, also used as the past participle of violaten) + -en, borrowed from Latin violātus, perfect passive participle of violō (“to treat with violence (whether bodily or mental)”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Ultimately from vīs (“strength, power, force, violence”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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