violence (English)
Where does "violence" come from?
The English noun 'violence' entered the language from Middle English 'violence'[1][2], which was borrowed from Old French 'violence'[1][2][3]. The Old French term traces back to Latin 'violentia'[1][2][3], derived from the adjective 'violentus'[1], which itself stems from 'violō'[5], meaning to violate or disturb, and ultimately connects to the root 'vīs'[6] meaning strength. This historical borrowing ultimately displaced the native Old English 'stræc'[1].
Open questions
- The etymological connection of the Latin form 'violens' to 'vīs' is noted as being as if from some diminutive form. [6]
Full etymology tree
- violence (English), 'Extreme force.'
- inherited violence (Middle English), 'The force or power of one's feelings or mental state.'
- inherited violence (Old French), 'violence'
- borrowed violentia (Latin), 'violence'
- derived violens (Latin), 'violent'
- derived vis (Latin), 'force, power, strength, vigor, faculty, potency'
- derived violens (Latin), 'violent'
- borrowed violentia (Latin), 'violence'
- inherited violence (Old French), 'violence'
- inherited violence (Middle English), 'The force or power of one's feelings or mental state.'
Ancestors
- violence (Middle English)
- violence (Old French)
- violentia (Latin)
Descendants and derived words
- choose violence (English)
- do violence to (English)
- I choose violence (English)
- intimate partner violence (English)
- male pattern violence (English)
- male-pattern violence (English)
- non-violence (English)
- police violence (English)
- pornoviolence (English)
- self-violence (English)
- sexual violence (English)
- silence is violence (English)
Sources
- violence (English) - Wiktionary
- violence (Middle English) - Wiktionary
- violence (Old French) - Wiktionary
- violentia (Latin) - Wiktionary
- violentus (Latin) - Wiktionary
- violens (Latin) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris