Also 6–7 -our. [a. L. violātor, agent-noun f. violāre to violate. So F. violateur (OF. violatour), It. violatore, Sp. and Pg. violador. Cf. VIOLATER.]
1. A ravisher or outrager of women.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 33. Sardanapallus, a man hauenge grete delectacion of women, and a violator of þeim.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., V. i. 41. That Angelo is an adulterous thiefe, An hypocrite, a virgin violator.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa, VI. 327. If, by vowing love and honour at the altar to such a violator, I could sanctify … his unprecedented and elaborate wickedness.
1864. Tennyson, Boadicea, 50. Me the sport of ribald Veterans, mine of ruffian violators!
2. A desecrator or profaner of something sacred or venerable.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., II. 825/1. But Guye de Mountfort was excommunicate, as a violatour of the churche.
1591. in Jas. Campbell, Balmerino & Abbey (1867), III. ii. 178. Ordanis the sessione of the kirk of Balmerinoch to cause violatoris of the Sabbath day publictlie to make publict repentance thairfor.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 13. The persecuters of those who submit themselves are to me in equal execration with the violatours of sepulchers.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low C. Wars, 30. Commanding the Inquisitors to execute judgement upon violators, and novelties in Religion.
1841. Lytton, Nt. & Morn., I. i. Now … glared upon the startled violators of the sanctuary, with glassy eyes and horrent visage, a grim monster.
1865. Baring-Gould, Were-wolves, xv. 250. It is well known that Oriental romance is full of stories of violators of graves.
1898. Meredith, Odes Fr. Hist., Rev., x. They, violators of home, dared hope an inviolate home.
3. An infringer, breaker or transgressor (of a law, compact, etc.).
1642. C. Vernon, Consid. Exch., 104. That due punishment be inflicted upon the violators thereof.
1644. Milton, M. Bucer, Wks. 1851, IV. 331. They … are no more in bondage to such violators of Marriage.
1676. Temple, Lett. to Sir J. Williamson, 21 March. Nor could it easily be found out how the Violator of any such Passport should be punished.
1738. Warburton, Div. Legat., I. 16. The Violator of the Laws of the Society.
1775. De Lolme, Eng. Const., II. xvi. (1784), 239. To give up the violators of these laws.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1820), 199. Whoever thought wrong,… was a flagrant violator of the inestimable liberty of conscience.
1881. Jowett, Thucyd., I. 76. Those who attack others, not those who defend themselves, are the real violators of treaties.
4. One who injures, disturbs, or interrupts violently.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 31. The incendiaries, robbers, and violators of mankind.
1828–32. Webster, s.v., A violator of repose.
