Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VI'O-LATE, v.t. [Fr. violer; L. violo; It. violare; Sp. violar.]

1. To injure; to hurt; to interrupt; to disturb; as, to violate sleep. – Milton. Kindness for man, and pity for his fate, / May mix with bliss and yet not violate. – Dryden.
2. To break; to infringe; to transgress; as, to violate the laws of the state, or the rules of good breeding; to violate the divine commands; to violate one's vows or promise. Promises and commands may be violated negatively, by non-observance.
3. To injure; to do violence to. Forbid to violate the sacred fruit. – Milton.
4. To treat with irreverence; to profane; as, to violate the sanctity of a holy place.
5. To ravish; to compress by force.