Also 5–6 vyolacion, violacion(e, 6 -acyon, -atioune. [a. OF. violacion (F. violation, = Sp. violacion, Pg. violação, It. violazione), or ad. L. violātiōn-, violātio, noun of action f. violāre to violate.] The action of violating, in various senses.
1. Infringement or breach, flagrant disregard or non-observance, of some principle or standard of conduct or procedure, as an oath, promise, law, etc.; an instance of this.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 291. An objeccion was made to hym of the violacion of his religion and beleve.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xxxiv. 133 (Harl. MS.). Þe Emperour beynge in gret wrethe, for violacion of his precepte & comaundement.
1518. Star Chamb. Cases (Selden), II. 150. The further violacion and disordryng of the ordenaunces, vsages, and auncient custumes of the said towne.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxii. § 15. The harme that groweth by violation of holie ordinances.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., IV. iv. 488. It cannot faile, but by The Violation of my faith.
1655. S. Ashe, Fun. Serm. Gataker, 18. It will be no violation of the Law of charity to affirm, that he was never truly good who doth not strive to be better.
1681. Flavel, Meth. Grace, xxxiii. 556. This is a sure rule, that the greatest violation of conscience is the greatest sin.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 99, ¶ 7. The great Violation of the Point of Honour from Man to Man, is giving the Lie.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 153. The violation, or non-performance, of these contracts might be extended into as great a variety of wrongs, as the rights which we then considered.
1776. Gibbon, Decl. & F., iii. (1782), I. 75. Without any violation of the principles of the constitution.
1824. L. Murray, Eng. Gram. (ed. 5), I. 232. Of this rule there are many violations to be met with.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1877), I. 360. It would be regarded by the Czar as a flagrant violation of treaty.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 11. Laws are passed concerning violations of military discipline.
b. Without const. rare.
1481. Coventry Leet Bk., 475. Eny thyng … wherby the seid trewes & other conuencions passed betwen vs … myght fall in vyolacion or Ruptur in any wyse.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 472. The peas whiche then was proclaymed … whiche endured nat longe without vyolacion.
1640. Grimston, Speech, 9 Nov. (1641), 5. To adjourne the house upon any command whatsoever, without the consent and approbation of the House it selfe, were breaches and violations that highly impeached our priviledges.
† 2. The action of treating or handling violently and injuriously. Obs.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), II. 179. All … with furyous vyolacion … Thus shalbe subduyd.
1616. Bullokar, Eng. Expos., Violation, an offering of violence, a breaking.
a. 1656. Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 424. Perseus … sent away the Rodians open Vessels, and Eudemus their President without Violation, nay even civilly entreated.
1699. Evelyn, Kal. Hort. (ed. 9), 23. To apply the Collateral Branches of his Wall Fruits … (without violation and unnatural bending, and reverting) to the Earth or Borders.
3. a. Defilement of chastity, etc.; in later use esp. by means of violence.
1497. Bp. Alcock, Mons Perfect., D iij. In clennes of body & soule without voluntary pollucion or vyolacion.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 182. Thou … conceyued thy chylde without corrupcyon or violacyon of thy virginite.
1696. Phillips (ed. 5), s.v., A forcing of a Woman against her Will, is call’d a Violation of her Chastity.
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Rape,… a Ravishing, or forcible Violation of the Chastity of a Woman, or Virgin.
b. Ravishment, outrage, rape.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., III. iii. 21. What is’t to me, when you your selues are cause, If your pure Maydens fall into the hand Of hot and forcing Violation?
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 81. By violation is understood carnal knowledge, as well without force, as with it.
1810. Southey, Kehama, IX. 126. When Arvalan, in hour with evil fraught, For violation seized the shrieking Maid.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 171/2. The law [of treason] has been held to apply to a criminal connection by consent as well as to a forcible violation.
4. Desecration or profanation of something sacred.
1546. Gardiner, Detect. Devil’s Sophistrie, 15 b. The breakyng of the most blessed sacrament, by the ministre in the masse, doth no violacion to christes most precious body there present.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark iii. 26. They sawe the dumme beast might lawfully be drawen out of the hole, lest it shoulde peryshe, without anye violacion or breache of the sabboth.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v.
1777. R. Watson, Philip II. (1839), 221. The Spanish soldiers themselves … were afterwards … touched with remorse on account of their violation of the churches.
1849. G. P. R. James, Woodman, ii. What he desires to do, that he will do—even to the violation of sanctuary.
1856. C. Knight, Hist. Eng., I. xxvii. 425. The violation of a sacred place by murder was considered a greater crime than the murder itself.
5. Improper use of something.
1822. Shelley, Chas. I., II. 75. Look that those merchants … take fullest compensation For violation of our royal forests.
Hence Violational a. rare.
1810. Bentham, Packing (1821), 24. Something or other … ‘injurious,’ ‘prejudicial,’ ‘hurtful,’ or ‘violational.’
1876. J. J. G. Wilkinson, Hum. Sci. & Div. Rev., 25. Medicine has made great strides of late, and this is owing noticeably to violational science. [Violationism and violationist are also used in this work, pp. 577, 579, etc.]
