noun

1. physical force used so as to injure, damage, or destroy; extreme roughness of action
2. intense, often devastatingly or explosively powerful force or energy, as of a hurricane or volcano
3. 1. unjust or callous use of force or power, as in violating another's rights, sensibilities, etc.
   2. the harm done by this
4. great force or strength of feeling, conduct, or expression; vehemence; fury
5. a twisting or wrenching of a sense, phrase, etc., so as to distort the original or true sense or form to do violence to a text
6. an instance of violence; violent act or deed

Etymology: ME < MFr < L violentia < violentus: see violent