violent

Etymology

From Middle English violent, from Old French violent, from Latin violentus, from vīs (“strength”). Displaced native Old English stræc. For the verb, compare French violenter.

adj

1. Involving extreme force or motion.
   A violent wind ripped the branch from the tree.
2. Involving physical conflict.
   We would rather negotiate, but we will use violent means if necessary.
3. Likely to use physical force.
   The escaped prisoners are considered extremely violent.
4. Intensely vivid.
   The artist expressed his emotional theme through violent colors.
5. Produced or effected by force; not spontaneous; unnatural.
   1684-1690, Thomas Burnet, Sacred Theory of the Earth and no violent state by his own Maxim, can be perpetual,

verb

1. (transitive, archaic) To urge with violence.

noun

1. (obsolete) An assailant.
   Did the Covetous extortioner observe that he is involv'd in the same sentence, [and] remember that such Violents shall take not heaven, but hell, by force. 1667, Richard Allestree, The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety