Violent \Vi"o*lent\, a. [F., from L. violentus, from vis
strength, force; probably akin to Gr. ? a muscle, strength.]
1. Moving or acting with physical strength; urged or impelled
with force; excited by strong feeling or passion;
forcible; vehement; impetuous; fierce; furious; severe;
as, a violent blow; the violent attack of a disease.
Float upon a wild and violent sea. --Shak.
A violent cross wind from either coast. --Milton.
2. Acting, characterized, or produced by unjust or improper
force; outrageous; unauthorized; as, a violent attack on
the right of free speech.
To bring forth more violent deeds. --Milton.
Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life.
--Shak.
3. Produced or effected by force; not spontaneous; unnatural;
abnormal.
These violent delights have violent ends. --Shak.
No violent state can be perpetual. --T. Burnet.
Ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and
void. --Milton.
Violent presumption (Law), presumption of a fact that
arises from proof of circumstances which necessarily
attend such facts.
Violent profits (Scots Law), rents or profits of an estate
obtained by a tenant wrongfully holding over after
warning. They are recoverable in a process of removing.
Syn: Fierce; vehement; outrageous; boisterous; turbulent;
impetuous; passionate; severe; extreme.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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