\Vi"o*lent\, a. [F., from L. violentus, from vis
strength, force; probably akin to Gr. ? a muscle, strength.]
1. Moving or acting with physical strength; urged or impelled
   with force; excited by strong feeling or passion;
   forcible; vehement; impetuous; fierce; furious; severe;
   as, a violent blow; the violent attack of a disease.
         Float upon a wild and violent sea.    --Shak.
         A violent cross wind from either coast. --Milton.
2. Acting, characterized, or produced by unjust or improper
   force; outrageous; unauthorized; as, a violent attack on
   the right of free speech.
         To bring forth more violent deeds.    --Milton.
         Some violent hands were laid on Humphrey's life.
                                               --Shak.
3. Produced or effected by force; not spontaneous; unnatural;
   abnormal.
         These violent delights have violent ends. --Shak.
         No violent state can be perpetual.    --T. Burnet.
         Ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and
         void.                                 --Milton.
{Violent presumption} (Law), presumption of a fact that
   arises from proof of circumstances which necessarily
   attend such facts.
{Violent profits} (Scots Law), rents or profits of an estate
   obtained by a tenant wrongfully holding over after
   warning. They are recoverable in a process of removing.
Syn: Fierce; vehement; outrageous; boisterous; turbulent;
     impetuous; passionate; severe; extreme.

\Vi"o*lent\, n.
An assailant. [Obs.] --Dr. H. More.

\Vi"o*lent\, v. t. [Cf. F. violenter.]
To urge with violence. [Obs.] --Fuller.

\Vi"o*lent\, v. i.
To be violent; to act violently. [Obs.]
      The grief is fine, full, perfect, that I taste, And
      violenteth in a sense as strong As that which causeth
      it.                                      --Shak.