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| Date: | 1400-1500 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | , past participle of violare |
1SCC to disobey or do something against an official agreement, law, principle etc : 
34 protesters were arrested for violating criminal law.regimes that violate human rights
34 protesters were arrested for violating criminal law.regimes that violate human rights2 to do something that makes someone feel that they have been attacked or have suffered a great loss of respect : Victims of burglaries often feel personally violated.
Victims of burglaries often feel personally violated.3 formal to break open a grave, or force your way into a holy place without showing any respect : Vandals had violated the graveyard.
Vandals had violated the graveyard.4 literary to force a woman to have sex [= rape]
—violator noun [countable]
