Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Violent \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.